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Emet-Selch did not care for the Winter Solstice celebrations. The weather was dreadful and everyone seemed to slack off using the festivities as an excuse. That was what he had told Azem earlier in the month. She had begged him to allow her to decorate the Capitol building for the holiday.
Hades promptly rejected the idea he commented on his distaste for the festivities and she was absolutely perplexed with his statement.
“So what are you going to do for Solstice? Sit at home moping by yourself?” She raised.
“I will work, Azem. Like any other day.” He sighed and crossed his arms.
The holder of the Azem title and chair, Persephone, seemed to take this very seriously. Her brows were furrowed in indignation and then an idea brought a mischievous smile to her face. A sight ever too familiar to the Architect.
“Oh, no, you won’t!” She replied “There’s no way I’m letting you spend Solstice alone. I’m going to come over and you’re going to eat your words about the holidays.”
“Come over?” Hades repeated her words, confident that he had misheard them.
“Yeah!” As she went on about the decorations she would bring and the food she would make and before Emet-Selch could even try to reject the proposition, the plans were already made and she bid him goodbye. The sheer forwardness Azem showed every time she spoke never ceased to perplex Hades.
He sighed, shaking his head and somehow sensing a headache coming. But worse yet, he found himself looking forward to her visit. For the first time in a while, he had to actually confront the holiday season and, gods forbid, partake in the celebration.
Which included…
“A gift for Persie?” Hythlodaeus was surprised by Hades' question since he knew Emet-Selch wasn’t a fan of the holiday season. He smiled warmly at his friend. “Oh, I’m sure she’ll cherish whatever it is you give her.”
“That’s great, but I wasn’t asking for a pep talk I was asking for suggestions.” Emet-Selch crossed his arms and Hythlodaeus laughed.
“I’m serious! As long as it comes from the heart I’m certain it will please her immensely.”
“I don’t know why I’m even bothering…” The conversation was tiring Hades and it had only been going for a couple of minutes.
“Indeed, why are you? And why don’t I get a present?” Hythlodaeus feigned hurt but was genuinely curious to know what brought this on.
“She invited herself to spend Solstice with me, apparently it was outrageous of me to even think of spending it alone,” Hades said, the situation brought a smirk to his lips for a second, which Hythlodaeus didn’t miss.
“I see, I see…” He nodded and smiled to himself. He stopped for a second before saying. “Will she… make it in time?”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s out on duty right now in the southern hemisphere I believe. I thought she was staying there for the next few days or so.” Hythlodaeus answered.
Right, she was traveling for the Convocation, he remembered now. She had been excited about the people of that area and their folklore, and she had finally convinced the convocation of sending her for a field study, so she was staying there as of that week. Right… but she couldn’t have forgotten about their arrangement.
“ But-! I’m sure she’ll get here in time!” Hythlodaeus interjected his thoughts, trying to keep his friend from worrying.
Worrying? Why would he worry about spending Solstice alone? He never minded doing it before.
-
So it shouldn’t bother him that she was late. He told himself after checking the clock hanging on the wall. Solstice was here, the streets of Amaurot were decorated and lively, Hades looked down his window silently hoping to spot Azem in the crowd.
Maybe she did forget. The excitement of her trip and its overlap with the holiday, it could all have culminated in making her fail to remember her promise. He huffed in amusement, unable to be angry, she could be a bit absent-minded when focused on her work. One of the things that he admired in her was her diligence in her duty as Azem, her passion was visible and commendable. He could see her glow whenever reporting on her latest field studies and her discoveries. The way her eyes sparkled, her energy could light up the whole city of Amaurot.
Hades sighed before taking a sip of the wine glass, a drink he had gotten for the occasion. He had opened the bottle when his hopes for company reached their lowest. By Zodiark, he felt pathetic. He thought his infatuation with Persephone was disgraceful before, but that night? He felt like a teenager with a crush.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the frantic knocking on his door. He smirked and put the glass on the windowsill before heading to open the door.
Of course she didn’t forget.
He opened the door to his apartment, being met with the sight of a restless Azem. She clearly came straight to his place from her voyage, still wearing her backpack and all.
“Look who decided to show up, I was just thinking about heading to my office and doing some work instead.” He smirked at her.
“I would have dragged you out from there regardless!” She smiled back at him. Hades shook his head and stepped aside to allow her into his place. He couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief and a warm sense of domesticity as Persie stepped inside. She went straight to the fireplace, sitting on the rug and sighing as she felt the flame’s warmth caressing her skin. “Ah… I’m so done with the cold, my next trip needs to be to a tropical location, or else I’ll go on strike.”
Emet-Selch stood next to her, he tried not to stare at how beautiful her skin looked reflecting the soft glow of the fire. “You’re over-encumbered, let me hang your coat and bag.”
“Such a gentleman” She teased, taking off the backpack and coat. She handed them over before stopping Hades before he put them away. “Oh wait, I brought you something, let me just grab it.” She put her hand down her bag and pulled a small pouch from inside.
A gift? Hades mused as he rested her belongings on the coathanger. He smiled to himself before he could stop it, shaking his head before heading back to the living room.
–
The bottle of wine was at its end when Persie remembered about her gift. They had spent quite a while talking in front of the fireplace, mostly Hades listening to Persephone as she went on about her trip.
“And then I got really interested in their winter folklore and traditions and… Oh! Your gift!” She looked around for the small bag, finding it resting on the coffee table. She grabbed it and handed it to Hades, he looked at it with curiosity before undoing the string holding it closed.
“Are these… herbs?” He said, Persie nodded excitedly, she fished the plant from inside the bag. Some twigs and strands of some green plants with small clusters of white berries, adorned with a red string tied in a bow.
“Yeah! So these people I talked to have a winter tradition of putting these little guys in their homes to attract happiness and longevity!” She eagerly explained.
“Oh, I’ll get a vase for them”
“No, no! You gotta hang them on your doorway, look!” She jumped to her feet and headed to Hades’ front door.
She tried reaching the middle of the doorframe, holding Hades’ gift and standing on her tippy toes to hang the plant in its rightful place. Hades couldn’t help but chuckle at her predicament, her height making the task impossible, his reaction made her glare at him. He walked over to her and took the plant from her hand, his taller frame allowing him to easily place the mistletoe hanging over his doorway. Hades towered over her with a smug look on his face “Like this?”
“Yeah… something like that…” She looked away, a subtle blush adorning her face. Hades figured this was a good time to hand her gift, he grabbed a small box in his pocket offering to her. “You got me a Solstice present? Didn’t you hate the holidays?” She smiled, incredibly proud of herself.
“I suppose I’m eating my words.” He crossed his arms and she giggled opening her gift.
Inside the light beige box was a beautiful silver compass, adorning the surface behind it was the shape of Azem’s cristal in delicate amber tracing.
“Hades…” Persephone covered her mouth, happiness bubbling inside of her and bringing a smile to her lips. Her heart was beating fast and she couldn’t take her eyes away from the item in her hand.
“That should make it easier for you to find your way back home in time for next Solstice.” He smirked, her reaction to the gift made his heart skip a beat.
She looked up at him with starry eyes and a racing heartbeat. She didn’t have to say a thing as she leaned into him, kissing him under the mistletoe. And Hades found there was something to be cherished in the holiday season.