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“Than!”
Zagreus rounds the corner into the West Hall, dashing towards the southwestern balcony where Thanatos stands, still as a statue except for the sway of his long silver hair.
Thanatos turns towards his excited lover. Blood and darkness, he needs to remember. His hand drifts up to the laurels nestled in his hair. Zagreus is his intended, his husband to be. Lover is too small a word, now.
He smiles as he catches sight of his beloved’s smiling face, his smile deepening as Zagreus crashes into him, embracing him in a warm hug, burying his face in Zagreus’ messy hair.
“What are you so excited about, love?” he murmurs, bending to kiss his flushed cheek, to straighten Zagreus’ flaming laurels, knocked astray by the force of their embrace.
“I brought you something from the surface! Charon was kind enough to bring it back to the House for me.”
“Oh? What is it?” Thanatos asks, blushing. Zagreus brings him too many gifts. “You’ll see. We’ll need to go to the fountain chamber, though. Can you take us there?” Zagreus notices the wry look on Thanatos’ face and smiles. “It’s not that kind of gift. Don’t get too excited.”
Thanatos gathers Zagreus in his arms, transporting them away from the house in a flash of glowing green light. They land softly on the cool tiles of a large fountain chamber, one they use for bathing.
“Get in!” Zagreus is already stripping off his armour, setting his weapons safely to one side against the wall. Thanatos sighs, knowing that it’s fruitless to fight his intended when he’s like this. Zagreus turns to him, a soft smile on his face. "Come on, Than."
He lets himself be stripped naked and led to the water’s edge. He exhales heavily as he slips into the steaming pool, its heat relaxing his weary muscles. A moment later, Zagreus slips in beside him, pulling him close for a tender hug.
Zagreus uses a golden cup to pour steaming water over Thanatos’ head until his hair lies sodden down his back. He strokes the wet tresses, rubbing Thanatos’ scalp. “Is this the gift?” Thanatos asks.
“No,” Zagreus replies, producing a golden comb from somewhere and stroking it carefully through Thanatos’ wet hair. He sighs, leaning back against his precocious husband to be, enjoying the gentle tugging as the comb drags through the knots in his damp hair.
“This is the gift,” Zagreus murmurs, producing an ornate pot. “The mortals invented it. It’s called a hair mask.” “What does it do?” Thanatos asks, dabbing his finger in the thick, silky cream. It smells of flowers and sunlight and fresh air.
“Makes your hair beautiful, I think. Not that yours could be more beautiful, love. But I thought you might like it, since you grew your hair back for me.” Zagreus says, a hopeful smile on his face.
Thanatos nods, pressing a soft kiss at the corner of Zagreus’ lips. He doesn’t know why his beloved adores his hair so, but he can’t deny how treasured he feels when Zagreus lavishes attention on it. He's also incapable of denying his husband to be anything his heart desires.
Zagreus hauls himself out of the water to sit at the pool’s edge, pulling Thanatos between his dangling legs. He works the thick cream through Thanatos’ hair, combing it through the strands.
Thanatos shivers, enjoying the gentleness of Zagreus’ touch, the sensation of his beloved’s fingers against his scalp. He hears Zagreus push the pot away, presumably empty of the fragrant cream.
“Now what?” Thanatos asks.
“Now we wait, and you relax.” Zagreus replies, wrapping his arms around Thanatos’ chest and dipping to press soft kisses up the column of his neck. He turns Thanatos' face towards him, kissing him sweetly before pulling back, massaging Thanatos’ shoulders with his clever fingers.
Later that day or night, Zagreus will rinse and dry Thanatos’ hair, combing it until it lies silky smooth down his back. For now, Thanatos enjoys the feeling of being cherished like this. He relaxes into Zagreus’ arms, his heart overfull with love for his Prince.