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“Than!”
Thanatos immediately responds to Zagreus’ call, expecting to drop into the Elysian Arena to fight the champions, or to be surrounded by the heat of Asphodel as Zagreus is overwhelmed by the hydra’s many heads. What he doesn’t expect is the calm of a cottage in the green fields of Elysium, and the sight of Zagreus sprawled out on a bed, still holding Mort, on top of Achilles and Patroclus, his lovers. Achilles has a hand in his hair, caressing it softly, while Patroclus is holding his hand and pressing small kisses to his face.
He has seen the three of them together before, he’s even been in this bed with them, but it was never like this, never this… Quiet. Calm. Peaceful. A feeling of yearning settles deep into the chest at the sight, but he doesn’t reach out quite yet; what if Zagreus called him accidentally, and he’s just intruding on an intimate moment?
“Hi, Than,” Zagreus whispers, and the smile on his face dispels all of Thanatos’ doubts immediately. “Did I distract you from your work?”
He did. But it doesn’t matter. “No, I… I needed a break.”
Zagreus sits up, reaching out for Thanatos. He sets his scythe and sword against the wall before taking off the bulk of his armour, then approaches the bed. “I, um. Is this okay?”
“Of course it is, stranger,” Patroclus speaks up. “You said you wanted to be with us, is that not right?”
“No, I do, I just… I thought…”
“You thought we only wanted you for sex?” Patroclus, ever the direct. It’s probably good that at least someone is in this relationship, considering how he and Zagreus had danced around their feelings for so long, and how long it took Achilles to take the risk to see Patroclus again.
“...Something like that, yes.” He sits down on the bed, taking Zagreus’ hand, who lays a gentle kiss on it.
“We want you in any way you’ll have us, Thanatos,” Achilles says. “Frankly, I am quite flattered that not one, but two gods have taken a liking to two mere mortals like us.”
“Oh come on, Achilles, you know you’re much more than ‘mere mortals’,” Zagreus says. He switches their positions slightly, so that he is now on his side, between Achilles and Patroclus. His head is on Achilles’ chest, while Patroclus shifts to spoon him, burying his face between Zagreus’ shoulder blades, tickling him with kisses if Zagreus’ twitching is anything to go by. He doesn’t complain, though. Achilles stretches out his arm, beckoning Thanatos to lie down next to him. He obliges, laying his head on his chest in a mirror of Zagreus, taking his hand on Achilles’ abdomen.
Zagreus reaches out, kissing Thanatos gently for just a second before pulling back again. Achilles looks at Thanatos, smiling, and Thanatos can’t resist kissing him as well. It’s not the first time they’ve kissed, but it’s devoid of the passion and fervour that was there before; all that’s left is the love. It’s languid, their lips slowly moving against each other, tongues teasing but not quite committing.
“Now, my love, don’t hog him,” Patroclus says. Achilles breaks the kiss and laughs against Thanatos’ lips, hugging him closer. Patroclus sits up from behind Zagreus, leaning over him and Achilles to also lay a soft kiss on his lips, his hand cupping his jaw as if he’s afraid he will break. It’s short and sweet, but it makes Thanatos dizzy all the same. He can’t believe he’s surrounded by all this love, for himself, for each other. Before settling down behind Zagreus again, Patroclus also kisses Achilles’ forehead and Zagreus’ temple, just as gingerly as he kissed Thanatos seconds ago.
Patroclus wraps Zagreus in his strong arms again, and Thanatos thinks about how nice, how safe it would feel to be held like that, but he doesn't feel a sense of urgency to experience it, because he now knows for sure it won't be the last time they're all together like this.
They have all the time in the world to love each other in all the ways they can think of, and Thanatos is eager to experience it all.