Work Text:
Persephone was staring at tattoo ideas on her phone. She was laying on the couch with her legs draped over Hades’ lap. Cerberus was laying behind her and happily acting like a pillow as he curled around her head. It was a comfortable evening but it was time to share her idea with her husband. She wanted a tattoo, but not only that she wanted them both to get tattoos.
“Love?” she questioned looking up at him. She didn’t know his ideas on tattoos, it’s not something that they’d talked about. She knew he had his ear piercings but that was a bit different.
“What’s up Sweetness?” He asked looking up from his book smiling widely at the domestic view that greeted him. He was still caught off guard occasionally seeing her with his animals, their animals. They’d been together for over 50 years at this point but it still warmed his heart.
“What do you think about tattoos?” she asked him trying to keep her voice neutral. She didn’t want to sound too excited incase he really didn’t like the idea.
“Tattoos?” Hades questioned surprised. Sure, she’d gone to get her ears pierced around the same time she’d left TGOEM but she still just had a simple single lobe piercing. He hadn’t thought she had much interest in body modification. Even though his ears had been done hundreds of years ago, he still thought about other piercings he could get. He did like his piercings immensely.
“Yeah, have you ever thought about getting one? Do you like them?” she asked shyly biting her lip. This wasn’t sounding the most positive for her. She shifted on the couch sitting up, much to Cerberus’ annoyance, and pulling her legs to sit cross legged.
“I like tattoos. They can be very appealing. I can’t say I’ve thought about getting one myself. Amphitrite has several though. She’d be a good person to ask if your curious about them. Why do you ask, Sweetness?” He asked sweetly. She seemed nervous and he didn’t want to discourage her. If his little Honey Bee wanted to get a tattoo, he’d love it. He wasn’t sure about getting one for himself but he’d at least think about if for her.
“There is one I’d like to get. Actually, I’d like us to get tattoos for each other,” she explained looking away nervously. She still wasn’t sure how open he’d be to the idea.
“What were you thinking?” He asked her genuinely curious about what she’d come up with. He loved how creative she was.
“Well, I was thinking I could get a skull with crystals for you, and you could get roses for me,” she said nervously not sure what he would think about that. He still had mixed feelings about more feminine things and while it might not be unheard of for men to get flower tattoos, flowers were still feminine.
Hades hummed in acknowledgement of her words but didn’t know what to say. He rather liked the thought of her getting a skull with his crystals, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about getting roses. Without realizing it he’d sunk back into the couch and started weighing the pros and cons.
Persephone wasn’t worried by his silence. His thinking face was on and she loved it. His brows would furrow, and his lips would pout slightly as he would mentally weigh his options and truly think about what she’s said to him. She found his thinking face adorable though she knows that telling him that would be unappreciated.
“Sweetness, if you want a tattoo, I won’t stop you from getting one. I think I’d like to think about it for a few days before I say yes or no to getting one myself,” Hades stated simply scooting closer to Persephone on the couch so he could wrap his arms around her.
“You’re allowed to think about it,” she sighed sinking into his hold, “I was just scared you’d hate the idea.”
Hades chuckled and gave her a squeeze, “Bee, you know how much I enjoy leaving my mark on you. Having a permanent one would be just as nice.”
He leaned down to kiss her, immediately deepening the kiss. The thought of having his mark on her permanently turned him on endlessly. He pulled her on to his lap and kissed her until they were both breathless.
“I’d love to see my flowers on my good boy,” Persephone panted looking into his eyes. Red was staring into red, “I’m going to get a skull with your crystals either way.”
Hades smiled kissing her neck. “I guess we can get tattoos, another day though,” he said standing picking her up as he did, “for now, we’re going to the bedroom.”
Persephone laughed, pulled him into a kiss, and worked on getting his shirt off as they started down the hall. She’d have to call and schedule an appointment tomorrow.
~~~~~~~~~
Hades wasn’t surprised when three days later he was walking into a tattoo parlor with Persephone. His wife was determined to get things done as quickly as possible. He’d let her set everything up, just reminding her that they should be the only clients at the time. Even after 50 years she still forgot about the media, and they would have a field day if they found out the King and Queen were getting tattoos.
Persephone chatted with the worker while Hades took in the shop. It was very clean and chaotically decorated. Each corner seemed to have its own design as each artist was given their own space. Art work was everywhere, and little knick-knacks littered the surfaces. He was sure he saw some animal skulls among them. He loved it.
Hades liked things neat and tidy, it was his way of making sense of his life. A way to cope with the lack of control he’d had when he was young. It’s why his first task as King was ordering the Underworld. Part of him loved the chaos though. It’s why he loved Persephone’s Spring and why he let her talk him into all of her silly ideas that often went wrong. She brought a welcome chaos to his life and he couldn’t love her more for it.
“Love you need to sign this,” Persephone bubbled excitedly. Hades smiled and took the paper she was handing him. He signed it without looking it over. He trusted her.
“You better not have snuck anything in, little goddess,” he teased wrapping his arms around her after handing the form back to the worker.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you, I changed the flowers to cuck,” she whispered teasing him right back kissing his neck. She giggled at his groan but didn’t push it farther.
They pulled apart as a satyr, one of the artists, asked them to follow him. It was time to get started. They were going to be getting the tattoos at the same time with different artists. It worked well that their designs were so different. They were getting an artist that was more suited to the design.
Persephone knew that she wanted hers on her hip but Hades not having thought much about tattoos let Persephone decide where to get his. She picked his lower right torso, along the line of his v cut. He’d questioned her at the placement but she’d just laughed and told him to trust her.
Hades was glad that he’d worn his sweat pants for this because he was able to just keep them low slung on his hips. His artist, a river nymph named Hali, chatted to him happily as she positioned the guide.
“Do you want to check it in the mirror before we get started?” she asked him smiling happy to be able to use her skills on the King. She was going to do the best she possibly could.
“Seph?” Hades questioned looking over at his wife who was standing by the mirror checking her own placement.
“Hmm?” she hummed looking over at him. “Yes, perfect placement Hali!”
“Alright, hop up in the chair your majesty. If you need a break just let me know,” Hali smiled again prepping her tools. These were going to be the best damn roses of her career.
Hades got as comfortable in the chair as he could and tried to relax. This was a new experience, and Persephone had the advantage. She was at least a masochist, he just liked feeling small. He decided he would just watch her.
Persephone was happy with her placement and got settled in the chair facing Hades. At least it would be easy for them to talk to each other while it was going on not that she was sure how much talking she would want to do.
“Are you ready your Majesty?” the satyr named Petyr asked Persephone. “Pain typically isn’t too bad once the endorphins get flowing,” he supplied noticing the pair seemed a little nervous.
“What was your worst?” Persephone asked curiously. Petyr was cover in tattoos, surely some spots always had to hurt.
Petyr and Hali both laughed and answered “Ribs,” at the same time. With the tensions broken, light conversation started as both artists finished readying their stations. Soon enough the buzzing of tattoo guns filled the room.
“Oh, that’s not what I expected,” Hades said surprised at how little pain he actually felt after a few moments. Sure, it didn’t feel great but it wasn’t horrible, hurt less then a steam burn.
Persephone hummed in agreement before launching into a theory about the most resent episode of Fateful Crimes, which ended up becoming an argument and which show was better, Fateful Crimes or Under Law and Order. Not only did all four participate in the argument, but the satyr receptionist came and joined in on it too.
Around the same time the debate was winding down both Hades and Persephone were surprised to find they were almost finished.
Hades was finished slightly before Persephone and was pleased to finally be able to move. He was surprised when he looked in the mirror. He wasn’t sure how much he was going to like the tattoo even though he’d agreed. He loved the meaning enough that not liking the design hadn’t matted to him but he loved the look of the roses. Persephone’s pink constantly against his blue, well it had a greenish hue currently because of the ichor but it was going to be amazing once healed.
Persephone smiled widely when he showed her, “Love it’s amazing! We should have done these ages ago!”
Hades laughed gently before giving her a quick kiss and letting Hali finish taking care of his new tattoo. Around the time he was completely finished, Persephone was finally getting up to see her tattoo. It took most of Hades’ self-control not to just pounce on her.
The skull was an off white, with the crystals coming through it in the most perfect shade of blue. The crystals captured both his normal tone and his midnight down when he was full god mode. This was one of the best ideas that his little goddess had ever had.
“You’re amazing,” Hades said softly before pulling her into a kiss, “Thank you for this,” he breathed against her lips.
Persephone just kissed him again before reluctantly pulling away so Petyr could finish taking care of her. Hades took care of payment wanting to get his wife home so he could ravish her properly. He made sure to tip both artists and the receptionist extremely well.
“Well, I guess we really can’t get ride of each other now,” Persephone laughed looking over at her husband. “These are a little more permanent than words or rings.”
Hades just laughed and ushered her into the car, “You couldn’t have gotten rid of my anyway Honey Bee.”
“I know love, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”