Chapter Text
Normally when the gods gave Zagreus his boons, he had a bit of context of what they looked like, and where they were. EIther in the pearly Olympus, or their various temples, or some places Zagreus only vaguely understood, like Artemis in the woods.
This time, when he accepted Hermes’ boon in Elysium, he recognized where he was.
“Lord Hermes, you’re at the Temple of the Styx?”
“Well, hello there Coz! I’m down here as your good ole psychopomp!” He was still moving, even now, and Zagreus could make out the hazy outline of new shades being shepherded by him, “In fact, give me two shakes of a gryphins’ tail as I finish up here, I have a special delivery for you!”
“Wait- you can come down here?” Zagreus couldn’t help but feel a bit shocked, “Isn’t that not allowed??”
“Oh, well my good professional associate here doesn’t mind, it’s just a small off the books kind of delivery from me to you!”
Zagreus wondered what in the world Charon and Hermes had going on to allow for him to come down to Elysium.
He stood awkwardly, trying to wipe away some of the blood from his various cuts and scrapes before Hermes got there.
It wasn’t a very long wait, Hermes certainly lived up to his name as he appeared in a flash of orange. Zagreus would have assumed he simply teleported if it wasn’t for the hiss of the door opening and the rustling of grass.
“Hellooo there Coz!!” Hermes was abound with energy, “Mighty nice to see you face to face!”
He was just about Zagreus’ size, but with how he bounced around, looking at him from every angle it felt like he took up the entire room. His scarf circled like it had a mind of its own, a shining orange aura everywhere.
“You too, Lord Hermes,” Zagreus was taken aback, it seems like he found someone even harder to pin down than himself.
“I’ll have to make it down here more!” Hermes was hovering up and down like a hummingbird (not that Zagreus knew what that was), “Oh, but I’ve got ahead of myself, here’s your delivery!”
He pulled out a small bundled package of twine and paper.
Zagreus didn’t hesitate to open it, given Hermes’ excited look, “Erm… socks…?” he looked down at himself, “Thank you, Lord Hermes… but I don’t wear shoes…”
“Oh, it’s not for use in shoes, I know very few of the Chthonics even bother with footwear, but, I happen to know from an unfortunate run in with the… well the sea after the Trojan war, if you get those wet they stay wet for a very long time!”
“Um…” Zagreus was starting to sweat like he was in Asphodel, “Thank… you…”
“Oh, well you’re probably wondering why this odd gift! Well, Artemis didn’t know what to make of the water she found all over the place during a hunt,” Hermes said and Zagreus felt his blood run cold, “But I certainly know what Styx water is, and with you asking me about waterskins just the other day, it just made sense! Very good way to get around fate, Coz, I will say that this will be easier than carrying it about.”
Hermes must have noticed his face drain of color because he quickly added, “It’ll stay between us, don’t worry, boss! I’m the God of secrecy, remember?”
“Right, um, forgive my nerves,” Zagreus laughed nervously, “I’m very grateful though, thank you.”
“No problem, boss!” Hermes must have gotten some kind of notification, his head wings perking up, “Whoops, gotta run! See you around though, alright?”
“Alright,” Zagreus barely has time to get that out before Hermes speeds back the way he came.
He let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding, “Oh… my gods,” he murmured, hand over his chest, “He’s going to give me a heart attack.”
Regardless, he much preferred the idea of sitting in the grass then in a bucket to have a picnic.
~~~
“I got a delivery from Lord Hermes,” Zagreus said to Thanatos, who’s eyes widened.
“How did he-?!”
“I have no idea, he nearly gave me a heart attack,” Zagreus shook his head, “I guess Charon let him come down?? I didn’t say anything, he figured it out all by myself, already had this ready for me,” he held out his pair of socks.
“...You don’t wear shoes,” Thanatos glanced at Zagreus, as if he had suddenly decided to change his wardrobe.
“He said if I get them wet they’ll stay wet for a long time,” Zagreus shrugged, “Might be uncomfortable, but not any worse then bucket shoes.”
Zagreus dunked the socks into the Styx before putting them on.
“Mm. Squelchy.”
“Never- Never say that again, please.”
“Fair enough,” Zagreus laughed, “I have the nectar, you got some food?”
“Follow me,” Thanatos smiled slightly, floating off in a direction they had yet to go in.
Zagreus ran after, delighted that these socks weren’t giving him the same grief as the towels. Maybe they were even more special than Hermes let on?
It was just a short walk later through the evergreens before they settled upon a small clearing.
“Oh Than, this is amazing!” Zagreus was grinning so wide his face was probably stuck that way.
“It’s not much…” Thanatos felt the heat rising in his cheeks, dusting his cheeks golden.
“But I love it!”
There was a small blanket spread out over some snow, a basket on top of it. Zagreus couldn’t really guess where Thanatos would have gotten it from, but there was steam gently wafting up from the basket.
“I find that lots of mortals do this kind of thing,” Thanatos said sheepishly, “I have to say I’m confused by the appeal,” he settled down on the blanket.
“Well, let’s see if I can change your mind,” Zagreus wiggled his eyebrows and Thanatos had the gall to scoff.
There was pita, hot and fluffy, fish, sauces. Even a few figs and cheeses. Thanatos never really ate, never found it necessary unless it was sipping the nectar that Zagreus gave him.
Zagreus tore off a piece of pita, layering in some fish and sauce.
Thanatos watched, expecting him to eat it. What he wasn’t expecting was for Zagreus to lean over, holding up the bite.
He leaned away, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Take a bite, Than,” Zagreus said with that look that made Thanatos’ heart melt. How could he say no to those eyes?
He opened his mouth, tongue dusted a soft gold from the ichor that ran underneath. An invitation.
Zagreus felt the heat rising in his cheeks as he fed him the bite of food.
“It’s really quite good,” Thanatos couldn’t help but laugh, already preparing a bite to feed Zagreus, “Where’d you get an idea like this?” he asks as Zagreus chews.
“I feel like it’s something mortals would do.”
“I really hope that you didn’t learn this from Achilles.”
“Oh, gods, I’d be too humiliated to look him in the eye,” Zagreus shook his head as if to rid him of the thought.
Thanatos is fed another bite, this time a fig. He watches Zagreus lick the juice off of his thumb.
“Do you have the refreshments?” Thanatos asked, hoping it sounded romantic.
Given Zagreus’ giggling, it was not.
It seemed like it was out of nowhere that Zagreus pulled out a square bottle.
“Ambrosia??”
“What can I say, I beat Theseus a lot,” Zagreus laughed, “C’mon, it’s a special enough occasion.”
They realized they didn’t have any cups, and instead took turns sipping the sweet, slightly herbal drink.
“Wow, this is strong stuff,” Zagreus said after only a few sips. He is in Thanatos’ lap, head against his chest so they can share sips and exchange bites of food.
“Good thing we’re sharing a bottle,” Thanatos smiled gently, pecking Zagreus on the cheek.
Zagreus was barely even aware of the passage of time, his legs tucked up underneath him and eyes halfway closed.
The bottle of Ambrosia and the meal were finished too quickly, but neither said anything for a long moment, Thanatos wrapping his arms around Zagreus.
“I don’t want this to be over,” Zagreus murmured, so low Thanatos almost didn’t hear him.
He felt the tug of souls, calling out to be reaped, “Me neither.”
“We should do this more often,” Zagreus can feel it, they both can. The Styx water has lost its potency, now the socks are just wet from melted snow.
“We should,” Thanatos sighs, now moving to gather Zagreus up, his body becoming heavier.
“I’m just glad I didn’t die in some stupid way, like a fish bone or something,” Zagreus laughs to himself.
“Hypnos would never let you live that down.”