Chapter Text
“No you cannot have a double scoop.” Hades crossed his arms an eight-year-old Nico. Bianca giggled off to the side as Nico pouted.
“Why not?” Nico asked, “Mamma always lets us get double scoops.”
Hades sighed, “Fine.” He said, “If you’re certain it wont kill you.” He looked to the cold fridges storing the Gelato. Bianca had only wanted a single scoop of a Chocolate Bianco, he assumed she picked it because of the similarity to her name. Nico stood on his toes, ordering a double scoop of Liquirizia and Mango.
(Secretly, Hades thought his son had killed his tastebuds, in what realm should Liquirizia and Mango work together? Not the Underworld they don’t.)
Hades smiled and thanked the cashier, paying for his kids Gelato and leading them outside where they happily licked away at it. “There is a park nearby,” he started, “Why don’t we go there and you can play for a bit?” The kids both leaped up with joy and he chuckled, leading them both to his car.
They got in the back snd he sat in the front passenger seat, he had summoned an undead chauffeur for today. Driving in Italy was so much more difficult that driving in the states, he always got turned around with the left and the right sides.
He smiled to himself as his kids enjoyed their Gelato, letting each other try a bite and scrunching their noses up when they didn’t like the other’s flavour. He hoped his kids stayed like that forever, though he knew it was unlikely. He hoped at the very least that they didn’t grow up to be like him, unapproachable and scary. He was very aware of his reputation among mortals nowadays.
(He had to hope as he certainly wasn’t praying to Zeus, nor that catholic Mary that Maria always scolded him for not believing in.)
The car stopped and Bianca and Nico both lept out, rushing ahead of Hades while he called to them to be slower. He winced when he saw the fingerprints their sticky hands had left on the interior of his Dusenberg. It would be a pain to clean the leather. Well, all it would take was a wave of his hand, it would be a pain to remember to do it when he next went to use it. He sat on a park bench near the mothers as they watched their children play, Bianca and Nico now joining in.
He sighed peacefully. It was… relaxing to just sit here, watching his beloved children play without the fear of Zeus. Well, without a care in the world, would be a better description. They should fear Zeus, if only because he could strike them down at any moment if he knew of them.
Bianca and Nico were now with a few of the older kids, playing ‘Oranges and Lemons’ or whatever that nursery rhyme was. Soon, the sun set and they had to go home. Very few children were there and Nico and Bianca were struggling to stay away as they hid for Hide-and-Seek.
He stood up, brushing invisible dust off of his clean suit and called out to his kids. “Bianca! Nico!” He noticed they stood up and ran over, “What is it Papa?” Bianca asked, holding a yawning Nico close.
“I think its time to head back.” Bianca nodded and lead Nico away. Him following close behind to make sure they were safe.
“Papa,” Nico asked when he had gotten situated in the set next to Bianca, “Will you be there tomorrow?”
Hades chuckled, “What is tomorrow, μωρό μου?” He used the little nickname he had given Nico.
Nico smiled at the greek as he understood the meaning, his brain automatically translating the greek. “Its Church day and mamma always complains that you never show up.”
Bianca nodded solemnly, “I had someone in my bible study group ask me if you were dead.”
He chuckled, the imagination of children these days. “Maria never complains, and not about that I’d assume,” he hopped in the front passenger seat, “She knows how much i despise that place.”
“But its the only way to save your soul when you die!” She cried, startling Nico who looked to be starting to doze off.
He looked back and put a finger to his lips, “Inside voices Bianca, I think little Nicollo wants to sleep.”
“‘M not little.” He slurred and rubbed his eyes and Hades chuckled.
“You are.” Bianca had inherited this specific tone from her mother. The only way Hades had ever managed to escape it was by simply teleporting away and coming back in a few minutes, after she had calmed down. Bianca fixer her gaze to him when she saw his smile, “And you’re going with Mamma and Nico and I to church tomorrow, Papa.”
Hades smiled, hoping to please her. “We’ll see, okay?” She crossed her arms and sighed, but she accepted that it was the best answer she would get from him.
The re-animated driver drove them all to Maria’s home. It was a nice, double story brick building jammed between another home of similar appearance and a small cafe that served excellent coffee. Not to think that all Italian coffee wasn’t beautiful. Hades lead Bianca inside as he cradled Nico -who had fallen asleep- against his chest. He fumbled with the door, until Bianca had opened it and Maria instantly spied them walking in.
“Good afternoon, mio re.” She smiled and chuckled as Hades tried to avoid knocking Nico’s head against the corner.
She looked radiant, he noticed, as per usual. Usually such a term was reserved for his… dear, dear wife Persephone. However, he felt that Maria Di Angelo’s beauty might just surpass that of even that of Aphrodite, though he had never looked at Aphrodite in such a way.
Hades blinked and smiled his happiest smile. “You too, αγαπημένη μου.” She smiled, yet she did not know the meaning. He briefly thought her smile wasn’t nearly as bright as usual, that her skin had lost some colour. Although, Hades reasoned with himself, it was late. It was probably the lack of lighting that made it appear that way.
They both leaned in to kiss, When a hand shot up between their lips. Nico lay in Hades arms, and muttered “Gross…” in his half-asleep state.
He smiled at his beloved son, glancing to Bianca who was gagging by the stairwell. “How about I get these two off to bed?” He offered and Maria nodded her thanks.
After he had gotten them both tucked in, kissed them goodnight, told a bedtime story (that was really just a kiddy-ified tale of his brother’s stupidity), gave them a kiss goodnight and watched them say their bedtime prayers. Oh and he kissed them goodnight again, after all that he was ready to head down and sit with his love Maria for a while.
“Stay the night.” She whispered as he sat down beside her, her head jammed underneath his jaw as they both sat with their limbs entangled. “Please.”
He smiled, “Its church day tomorrow,” he said, “Are you sure this isn’t a ploy to get me to go with you and the kids?” She kissed his jawline and he ran his fingers softly over her thighs.
“I wont make you go,” she sighed, “But the children definitely need to go, if they go they’ll definitely be able to go to heaven.”
Hades snorted, “And I’ve told you dear, they don’t need to worry about that, they’ll be with me.”
Her voice was quiet, “Well, in any case maybe I simply want you company tonight.” She whispered into his ear and he melted into her voice, “The beds so big and I’m so lonely.”
He scooped her into his arms, his black hair falling about his shoulders as he held her, “Hmmm-alright.” He could just see her smug grin, “Only because I love you.”
“I love you too.” She chuckled as he hoisted her up and carried her to the stairs up to the bedroom.