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The world is on fire.
As if to rot from its core, the entirety of existence is falling apart at the seams. Perfection brought to ruin.
The only course of action is something so maliciously depraved, and yet those of sound mind amidst the sanity remain set on the answer. It’s the one time Hades questions his position, the one time he truly wonders if the red mask hanging amidst his breast and the name of ‘Emet-Selch’ denoted to him is something he is worthy of. Blood on his hands - is this the path to wisdom they were meant to bring about as the Convocation?
Cries of anguish echo. The taste of uncertainty is bitter on his tongue, even more so the moment he sees familiar purple eyes shining amidst the chaos.
“Ah there you are.” Hythlodaeus starts, speaking almost a little too casually considering the circumstances.
“You…” His mouth goes dry. Hades knows the talks that have been unfolding very rapidly within the past hour. There’s a terrible sense of knowing clawing in the back of his mind, yet he asks the question all the same. “…What was your decision?”
“I will join the others.”
The moment those words are breathed into existence, Hades wants to throw it all away. He wants to trade it all - his title, his ‘gift’, anything and everything in his possession - anything to rewind time, to somehow make every horrible thing that led up to this outcome from ever happening - anything to keep Hythlodaeus from - from-
“You knew I would though. Are you truly that surprised?” Hythlodaeus continues with a tilt of his head, voice strangely calm as the flames grow hotter in the vicinity around them.
“There has to be some other way, something I can do, perhaps if I-“ Hades’s composure begins to crumble just slight, enough for Hythlodaeus to lightly grab his arm to reign him back down to reality.
“There’s nothing but this. I know it’s not ideal but…” It’s then that the facade fades for a millisecond, enough for a glimmer of sadness to show in lavender eyes. “…it’s what must be done. I trust you with this, with my…well you know.”
Hades grits his teeth, biting back a scream. He can hear the continuous yelling from afar, knowing all too well that the death looming nearer by the second is unceasing.
“Hythlodaeus- I-“ Time isn’t on his side. The realization hits hard, and he can’t even stop himself from cupping Hythlodaeus’s face, cradling him in close enough to kiss him with a sincerity and ferocity that brings him to tears. They’re hot on his cheeks, and he’s all but sobbing when he feels Hythlodaeus throw his arms around his neck in turn, every fragment of his being put into this single moment, hoping it’ll never fade away even after he’s gone.
So many years, so many memories, so many smiles and laughs, so many touches, and yet he never dared to speak these words -
Hades tastes the sweetness of Hythlodaeus and knows he fell so long ago. He doesn’t know how he’s ever going to live without this.
“Don’t. You can’t lose faith now.” Hythlodaeus speaks hot against his mouth, the taste of tears mingling in with how they still share half-kisses between uneven breaths.
“This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. I love you, please don’t do this, someone else certainly can.” Hades is the epitome of desperation, clutching onto Hythlodaeus like a lifeline.
Hearing the words that have been always seemingly been there, lingering between them, yet never spoken only makes the entirety of this all the more bittersweet. Hythlodaeus is grateful all the same, doing his best to show his feelings in kind by not displaying fear in his decision.
“I must.” Hythlodaeus is steadfast in his resolve. He leans up to kiss Hades long and slow, and the ruination of the world seems to disappear if only for those few seconds.
“For now..this isn’t the end.” Peering up at him, lavender eyes glimmer faintly with tears, yet the smile remains. “…I will always be here.” Hythlodaeus lightly runs his hand down Hades chest, resting on the heartbeat that is strong and true beneath his palm.
“Hythlodaeus…” There’s no talking him out of this, Hades can see that, is forced to accept it, and the reminder stings.
“I love you too.” Hythlodaeus speaks so gently, a whisper, a secret meant only for Hades - his Hades - to keep to himself forever. “See you later.”
With one final kiss before his resolve can break, Hythlodaeus pulls away, doing his best to give his signature wave while heading in the other direction. The last minutes of his life, his destiny, play out in his mind, and it’s enough to overwrite any sense of fear. He knows Hades will persevere. There’s a greater purpose to this.
And all Hades can think while watching Hythlodaeus walk away is - things will never be the same.
“I’ll never be the same.”