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It took some time to adjust to life with new kids, let alone a set of twins.
Both Charon and Hermes had been continuing to work as usual, but now they made certain to take more breaks and for free time to be spent focused on the twins. Some days Charon had a little more free time than Hermes, or vice-versa, so they shifted responsibilities as necessary to provide proper care to the little godlings.
As could be expected, the shades who came to board his boat gave pause when they found either one or both twins swaddled against his body. As a ferryman for the dead, this didn’t necessarily maintain his intimidating image very well.
“Sorry I’m late, my dear associate!” Hermes called out, appearing in a burst of wind at the gates of Styx with a throng of shades in tow. “Had a few messages to deliver and, as always, Ares is stirring up trouble on the surface again.” His gaze flitted to Elysium, who was swaddled to Charon’s chest, and then to the empty boat. “Where is Erebus? In the vault?”
Holding up a calm hand to signal for Hermes to wait, Charon turned and showed Erebus strapped to his back. The little god perked up as he caught sight of his dad, fluttering his tiny wings as if to say hello.
Snorting, Hermes scooped Erebus out of the sling and into his arms. The shades dropped their obols into the pouch Charon held out to them, silently filing onto the boat with curious glances at the little family.
“Taking on the dad role effortlessly, I see.” All smiles, Hermes bounced the little boy in his arms. “Who showed you how to double-sling like that?”
“Hrrrrrnnnghhh.”
“Did it yourself? I’m impressed.” Erebus was brought up to eye-level, where Hermes showered him with little kisses as he continued to speak. “You know, I’ve been thinking lately and I think it’s time that we introduced the twins to...well, the other twins! Your brothers would love to meet them, I’m sure.”
“Hhhhrnnn...” Closing his pouch as the last shade filed onto his boat, Charon sighed. Telling the twins was one thing, but he knew there would be many more in the House that could find out and spread the news like wildfire. While he wasn’t against them all eventually discovering, the thought of Nyx, let alone Hades, finding out about their little family wasn’t entirely appealing. “Hrraaaaggghhhh.”
“Oh no, just them for now.” In a rare display, Hermes landed on his feet so that he could playfully tease his head-wings against Erebus’, earning a soft giggle in response. “As much as I know that you love attention,” he snickered as Charon groaned, “I think it would be best to keep it to your brothers, for now. Maybe they could come to the vault so that we can all have more privacy?”
Nodding in agreement, Charon glanced back at the boat briefly before returning his gaze to Hermes.
“Hahh?” He asked simply, gesturing to the vessel.
“I suppose I can make some time for a ride from my favourite associate.” Hermes beamed, zipping over into the boat with Erebus in his arms. He settled in the front, near where Charon would row. “Come along then, we can’t be late.”
Despite the audience of shades, Charon enjoyed the ride with his family.
Although, his mind was elsewhere as he planned the special introduction of the twins.
–––––– • ––––––
“It’s not everyday that you ask us to visit, Charon! Are you dying or something?”
Sighing deeply, the eldest brother shook his head as he led his two younger brothers into his vault.
Both excited and nervous, the boatman did his best to keep his emotions in check. While most of the gods tended to have complicated relationships with their families, Charon cherished his — well, he cherished his brothers. And while they both knew of his relationship with Hermes, he didn’t think they would quite expect what he was going to show them today.
“It is rare but that doesn’t mean it will never happen, Hypnos.” Thanatos replied quietly, stoic and yet curious as he floated after his elder. “Did you need help with something, Charon?”
“Charon, needing help?” Hypnos echoed, sleepy smile tugging at his lips. “Well, if you wanted to nap for once, all you had to do was ask!”
Reaching the back of his vault where his bed resided, Charon gestured to the scene before him in silence.
Hermes was sitting on the bed, with both twins sleeping on their backs before him. There was a brief pause as the elder twins stared at the pair, though that silence was quickly shattered as Hypnos opened his mouth.
“Wow, I didn’t even know you had se—“
Slapping his hand over Hypnos’ mouth, Thanatos cleared his throat. A faint blush rested high on his cheeks. “Hypnos.”
Slapping a hand over his own mouth to stifle a snort, Hermes wore a sassy smile. Charon relinquished a deep sigh of purple smoke.
“Anyway, let me see!” Escaping his twin’s censorship, he floated over to hover above the twins with a sparkle in his sleepy eyes. “Can I hold one? What’re their names?”
“Hraaa.” Charon began, scooping up the boy to deposit him in Hypnos’ arms. After correcting Hypnos on his form a few times, he finally gestured to the little girl. “Hrnnn.”
“Erebus and Elysium…” Thanatos murmured, eyeing the babies with hesitation that soon shifted to nervousness as Hermes casually handed off Elysium to him. “Uh—“
“So yeah, you’re uncles!” Hermes grinned, beaming with fatherly pride. “Oh and you’re the only ones that know of them down here, so let’s keep this between us, okay?”
“No one else? But Charon, have you not told—“ Cutting off as the child in his arms stirred and yawned, Thanatos distinctly looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Elysium simply gazed up at him with curious, sleepy eyes, unsure of who exactly he was.
“Well, congratulations!” Hypnos excitedly interjected, happily floating with the now awake Erebus in his arms. “If you ever need them to take a nap, let me know!”
“I…okay. Just,” Sighing, Thanatos deflated with a tired expression as Elysium smiled and reached up towards him. “….they are pretty cute.”
“Oh man, even Than thinks they’re cute!” Hypnos teased, earning a sharp glare from his twin. “Zag is going to love this—“
“Hypnos, you are lucky I am holding a child.” Thanatos muttered, a blush deepening as he glared at his brother. The god of death refused to meet the gaze of the others, focusing his attention solely on properly holding Elysium. “….Hi.”
Elysium continued to eye him curiously, wonder clear as she gently smacked a little fist against his chest and babbled a hello in return. While he would never admit it, the god of death had found a new weakness.
With his younger brothers cradling his children, Charon found himself content and relieved. Sure, Hypnos still needed to work on holding Erebus correctly, and Thanatos really should unwind a bit more, but what really mattered was that his family accepted them.
He felt at peace.
A tiny hiccup suddenly echoed in the vault.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Charon leaned down to Erebus with a thoughtful, questioning groan. In turn, Erebus met his gaze and hiccuped once more, a small smile spreading over his lips as a puff of purple smoke formed a heart before him. In awe, Charon breathed out a plume of purple and mimicked the gesture, earning a soft giggle from the young boy.
Drifting closer as Elysium grew excited and reached for the smoke, Than hummed.
“Well, he definitely takes after you.”
“Yeah! That’s pretty neat—“ Cut off as Elysium suddenly reached over and grabbed his finger, Hypnos began to sweat as his finger quickly began to discolour. “Oh wow, haha, that’s a pretty strong grip you have there—“
Flustering, Charon quickly moved to relinquish her deathgrip on Hypnos’ finger, all the while Hermes burst into laughter at the scene before them.
“He’s not the only one that takes after his dad!” Hermes snickered.
“No kidding!” Hypnos sing-songed in return, awe clear. “Wow!”
The rest of the evening went by much smoother, with happy chatter over the twins and how they had worked their way into their lives (and hearts). When the family was finally alone, Charon helped tuck the twins carefully into their bed as Hermes settled beside them.
“Can stay for a little bit longer before I have to make some deliveries.” He murmured, gaze fond as he combed his hand through Elysiums’ curls. “Don’t want to leave just yet…”
If Charon had been weak for his family before, today had only further solidified that fact.
He was in love.
So very, very in love.