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.
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."
Hythlodaeus finds his lips spreading in a grin again. He can't help it, it's really just too fun and cute when Hades struggles with expressing his feelings like that.
"With what~?"
Of course he's going to try and get Hades to say it.
His cheeks flush a darker red and he starts arranging slices of meat and cheese together for the sandwich. When he's done, he'll hold it up for Hythlodaeus to take and eat.
Or his friend could simply snatch it as soon as it's done.
"...If you want to see it that way, I suppose so, yes," he says reluctantly, like he's reaching deep to drag the words out. "I hope you aren't expecting me to make all of our meals."
"Tempting as the offer is, I'm not actually expecting that of you. Besides, wouldn't you like to have me cook for you instead? All meals guaranteed to be made with my deepest adoration for you."
At least that part of Hades is very familiar to Hythlodaeus. He smiles, taking the sandwich properly, but his fingers linger on Hades's hand for some time.
"I may lack Azem's... spontaneous genius in the kitchen, but I'm sure I could make some of the more common dishes. And you could show me what people eat twelve millennia in the future."
Hades is rewarded with a blush spreading across Hythlodaeus's cheeks. He didn't expect that kiss!
"I cannot say I know what an emperor is, but I do look forward to tasting it." Hythlodaeus grins again, amused by a thought that occurs to him. "Though you said you hope I don't expect you to cook all our meals, I've the feeling that you would be quite happy to make them..."
"Well..." It's true that he would. He would complain about always being the one to cook their meals, but he has found that keeping busy keeps his mind from falling too deep into other thoughts.
"'Tis one thing to do it voluntarily and another to do it as a chore. As it happens, I find a certain comfort in preparing a meal these days."
"Then~... on the days you do not want to cook, I can take that responsibility."
Hythlodaeus finally seats himself at the table to finish his sandwich, even if he is loath to let go of his friend. But he is rather happy to know that Hades still has things that bring him joy in life, even despite all that he's been through.
"We could even start a recipe book! I am curious as to what the locals eat as well."
"You've been here for several moons already and haven't tried the food?" He diligently puts all the leftover food away and cleans what he used to prepare the sandwich. "You were enjoying yourself on the beach, weren't you?"
"Certainly! But I did not particularly distinguish between what was truly native food and what the inventions of other visitors. But that does sound rather fun, does it not? Trying different things together?"
He shoots Hades another smug look as a thought occurs.
"I could even make you a less-sweet version of that drink I was selling."
"Would that not be akin to leaving out the sugar whilst baking a cake? Some things are simply meant to be sweet."
He does like the idea of trying out food together though. This is what he's been missing - the companionship of travel. Seeing new sights and having new experiences means nothing without someone to share them with.
"Like me!" Hythlodaeus responds cheerfully at the remark about some things being meant to be sweet... although it's up for debate whether he's sweet or simply aggravating.
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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~"
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"You-- absolutely incorrigible man...!"
His cheeks are pink and he slaps a knife down with more force than necessary.
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"Ahh, still as shy as ever, aren't we?"
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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."
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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.
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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.
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... 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."
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"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."
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"But I must say, I would rather be the recipient of your affection. Whether in words or otherwise."
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Godsdamnit, he can't say it.
"With you-know-what."
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"With what~?"
Of course he's going to try and get Hades to say it.
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His cheeks flush a darker red and he starts arranging slices of meat and cheese together for the sandwich. When he's done, he'll hold it up for Hythlodaeus to take and eat.
Or his friend could simply snatch it as soon as it's done.
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"Thinking about it," he says (after he finishes chewing, thankfully), "isn't every meal you would prepare for me made with love?"
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"...If you want to see it that way, I suppose so, yes," he says reluctantly, like he's reaching deep to drag the words out. "I hope you aren't expecting me to make all of our meals."
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"Tempting as the offer is, I'm not actually expecting that of you. Besides, wouldn't you like to have me cook for you instead? All meals guaranteed to be made with my deepest adoration for you."
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Which is Hades' way of saying 'yes, I would like that very much'.
He adds more quietly, "I miss our people's food."
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"I may lack Azem's... spontaneous genius in the kitchen, but I'm sure I could make some of the more common dishes. And you could show me what people eat twelve millennia in the future."
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"I was thinking I would make you a Garlean soup tomorrow. One that was named in an emperor's honour."
Twisting around, he impulsively gives Hythlodaeus a kiss on the cheek.
"And when the weather turns colder, I can make you some of their native dishes."
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"I cannot say I know what an emperor is, but I do look forward to tasting it." Hythlodaeus grins again, amused by a thought that occurs to him. "Though you said you hope I don't expect you to cook all our meals, I've the feeling that you would be quite happy to make them..."
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"Well..." It's true that he would. He would complain about always being the one to cook their meals, but he has found that keeping busy keeps his mind from falling too deep into other thoughts.
"'Tis one thing to do it voluntarily and another to do it as a chore. As it happens, I find a certain comfort in preparing a meal these days."
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Hythlodaeus finally seats himself at the table to finish his sandwich, even if he is loath to let go of his friend. But he is rather happy to know that Hades still has things that bring him joy in life, even despite all that he's been through.
"We could even start a recipe book! I am curious as to what the locals eat as well."
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With that...'bubble tea' or whatever it was.
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He shoots Hades another smug look as a thought occurs.
"I could even make you a less-sweet version of that drink I was selling."
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"Would that not be akin to leaving out the sugar whilst baking a cake? Some things are simply meant to be sweet."
He does like the idea of trying out food together though. This is what he's been missing - the companionship of travel. Seeing new sights and having new experiences means nothing without someone to share them with.
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