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Chapter Text

"Few tales are told of Hades, whose reign as grim lord of the dead came to a sudden end when, all at once, his past caught up with him. But gods do not go quietly, and history repeats. So this tale was only a matter of Time ..."

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If it mattered (which he likes to think that it did), Hypnos had zero clue that Chronos was going to just…appear on a random day/night in the House of Hades. Granted, he was wrong about a lot of things, but… c'mon! Chronos coming back from the dead after being chopped to itty bitty pieces and said pieces being spread across Tartarus? The Titan of Time coming back from his banishment had the same probability as Thanatos quitting his job, or Cerberus wanting his other heads pet. Y'know, stuff that won't ever ever happen in a billion trillion years. Like, if money were an object that concerned him, Hypnos would bet it all on Chronos never coming back. It was such a non-issue in his life that when it directly became his problem, well…he didn't really know what to do.

The day/night this happened, everything had gone exactly as it was supposed to! He'd woken up, gone to work, took a nap, woke up again, filled out his lists, he even got a compliment from Thanatos! The day/night was going great for him, perfect even! He quite literally had no idea how quickly he was going to have a metaphorical rug swept out from under him, so he had no time to prepare. No time to make a list of battle plans, or to find Zagreus to warn him, or to even childishly seek the advice of Mother Nyx. He had no idea just how awful things were about to get.

If Time were a concept in the House, Hypnos would guess it was around the middle of his shift that everything started going to shit. Zagreus had just left to go do his job of ransacking the Underworld to find weak points in his fathers' security. The Prince had left without so much as a kiss, hug, or even a "goodbye" to his partner, because why would he need to? He gets back so quickly now, Hypnos could barely tell that he leaves! So instead of sulking about it, Hypnos had chosen to take his break and go bug the other members of the house. Again, a truly normal day/night for him.

He floated over to the front of the House to where the Queen was sitting down on a chair, cooing at Melinoë who seemed to have just woken up from a nap. Queen Persephone smiled upon seeing him.

"Hello there, Hypnos. On break, I'm guessing?"

"You bet! Which, uh, speaking of," He floated up to slide a stack of lists onto Lord Hades' impossibly tall desk. "For you!"

The god of the Underworld only nodded in acknowledgement, which signaled to Hypnos to not try to talk to him further. Oh well, he never had much to say to Lord Hades anyways, especially when the big guy is scary silent like he is now! He floated back down to the Queens height, where Little Mellie made grabby hands towards Hypnos, babbling nonsense.

"She sure does love you, doesn't she?" The Queen commented fondly, watching her baby. Hypnos felt himself grow giddy at the statement, because- wowie, by all the gods above, he truly loves little Mellie back. She was an absolute delight to have in the House! She was still a new addition to the family, but the whole House adored her as though she'd been around since the beginning. He still remembers how ecstatic Zag had become at the thought of being an older brother, even more so when the Queen had her baby. If Zag wasn't busy tearing apart the Underworld, he was always taking care of Little Mellie. The young goddess was the Underworlds joy, not even the brightest of gems could rival her sparkle.

"Have you guys figured out exactly what she's the goddess of yet?" He asked, extending a hand towards Mellie, who grabbed his forefinger with her stubby baby hands, looking at them as if they were the most interesting thing in the Underworld.

"Not yet, Hypnos." Queen Persephone sighed. "If she's anything like Zagreus, we won't find out until she's a bit older."

"Oh, that's a bummer!" He frowned, now booping Mellie on the nose. "Looks like someone's just gotta get bigger! Have you tried that, little Mellie?"

The baby giggled, reaching up for his hand again. He was just about to ask the Queen if he could hold her when the sound of someone teleporting into the House rung out. He assumed it was Thanatos, as he was the only one who ever really did that sort of thing, so he was a bit surprised to see a woman he did not recognize instead.

She was clad in a large witches hat and cloak, her face covered with a black mask. She was a Titaness, Hypnos knew that much at least given the oppressive aura of power that was emanating off her. What was her name? Heca…something. Hecuba? No, wait, that's a mortal! Gods, he really ought to learn peoples names-

"Hecate?" Ah, that's it. Lord Hades sounded surprise when he said her name, which was rare and sort of unpleasant to hear. "What are you doing here?"

"Lord Hades, I've come with a warning." She said, gravely serious. "It's to do with your father."

The whole House went silent, heads turning to watch the conversation. Hypnos felt a chill go down his spine. Chronos? That guy is like… dead dead last he checked. Part of him wants to blurt out to Hecate that she's got to be wrong, that anything involving Chronos just can't be true in their current era, but Lord Hades beats him to it.

"Chronos? Have you've gone mad, Hecate? He's been dealt with for longer than most of the gods here have been alive."

"I know what I've seen, Lord." She bowed in shame. "He's reconstructed himself- I don't know how, so do not ask. But he is back, and he’s livid."

"Where did you see him?" He demanded, his voice echoing across the house.

"Just by the Temple of Styx. It seemed as though he was gathering an army of Satyrs from there, then making his way back down."

"Cerberus wasn't trying to stop him?"

Hecate looked ashamed. "…I did not see him, my Lord."

"Blood and darkness," He cursed.

"What about Zagreus?" Hypnos blurted out, suddenly feeling very afraid. "He's gonna run into him!"

"Hypnos, don't say that!" Mother Nyx scolded. Hypnos flinched, not even realizing that she had joined the small crowd gathered around the Lords desk.

"Well maybe he can hold him off, I don't know!" Hypnos stressed, his voice going impossibly higher from fear. Gods, please, anyone but Zagreus-

"There isn't any time for this." Hecate interjected. "Chronos is already on his way to the House, we can't help who he takes if he captures us all."

"Then make haste," Queen Persephone sat up, handing little Mellie over to Hecate. "Leave the House now. Go in the shadows and don't stop until you're both well away from us."

"Persephone," The tenderness in the witches voice was palpable, making Hypnos' heart ache. "You can't ask me to-"

"If he's already coming, then," She stops talking, looking at Hades, who's expression is unreadable. "…At least save Melinoë. I trust you to care for her."

"Persephone," Hecate repeats, but the Queen turns away to face her husband, a clear dismissal, but also a save of face. And then exits Hecate, the joy of the Underworld leaving with her.

For a few moments, no one in the House dares to move or speak. Even Hypnos is afraid of talking, because even someone as stupid as he is knows what this means. Not even the Queen believes there is something to be done. The Queen, who's already lost so much, had just given up her child because of how helpless the phrase "Chronos is already on his way" made her feel.

They are, for lack of better terms, royally fucked.

Hades orders the shades lingering in the halls and the lounge to leave the House and to find Hecate- that she might be able to lead them somewhere safe. The only shade that stays behind is Achilles, who stands a lonesome warrior in front of the River Styx, his spear at the ready and his expression blank.

Mother Nyx casts the House in darkness, a vain attempt at concealing those still remaining inside. Thanatos arrived at some point, talking quietly with Lord Hades about how the dead were escaping him- how he thinks some of them were going straight to stand with Chronos. Hypnos, who never had much to show for his godhood, nor had he anything grand to offer, was trying to show the swarm of shades to a back exit of the house; the one connected to the Princes infernal arms chamber. Who would've thought that it'd only take his livelihood crumbling around himself to make himself useful?

Chronos infiltrates the house far too easily and far too quickly after that. Hypnos had since found a little hiding spot which allows for him to be concealed, but allows him a view of the main hall. For a moment, Hypnos thinks it's sort of funny that he enters through the Styx, but any humor he found quickly dies as the Titan stands up. In one of his hands, he's roughly tugging on the wrist of Zagreus, who's body doesn't even seem fully reformed yet. He's covered in blood and cuts, his lip busted and an ugly purple-ish green color. He looks so down and dejected, Hypnos can hardly recognize him.

"Zagreus!" Persephone yells, trying to run to her only son.

"Stand down, Spring, if you know what's good for you." Chronos snarled.

"Mother-mum, it's gonna be okay-!" Zagreus tried to reason. Chronos sneered, grabbing Zagreus roughly by his neck and shoving him to the ground, earning a cry from the Prince. Hypnos can't bear to look. He turns, his back now pressed against the wall of the Lounge. From where Chronos stood, there's no way he could see Hypnos unless he entered the lounge himself. The Sleep Incarnate hoped it wouldn't come to that.

From there, screams filled the house, sounds of fighting echoing off the walls impossibly loud. Hypnos clamped his hands over his ears, trying to block out the noise. He knows he should be doing something- anything, but it's like he's frozen in fear; like those deer that Zagreus keeps telling him about.

Think of something, think of something you useless piece of shit. You're a god, you need to start acting like one. Think of something, think of-

Chronos picks off the workers one by one, and Hypnos can't do anything about it. He feels disgusted with himself, standing by while his coworkers and family are being taken. Of course, he hears Meg and Than put up a fight, because of course they did, but it didn't matter. A fury and a god against a Titan is like pitting…

Hypnos can't even think of something funny. Not when he hears his twin- his other half be trapped in Time. Then his mom. Then the Queen, then the Prince. Then everyone else he ever cared or talked to. It wasn't fair. Everyone had fought back, and still, that wasn't enough. Chronos just laughed, saying nothing until the whole House was captured.

Well-

Almost everyone.

Hypnos glances from where he is hiding to find that Lord Hades had been held down by golden shackles, forced to watch as his family is torn from him a second time. Everyone else surrounds him, each imprisoned in little blips of time, forever sealed. Chronos is monologuing to Hades (something about how stupid the Lord is for not believing he could ever return), but Hypnos finds himself making a half-assed plan with himself on how to get Lord Hades out of here.

Chronos turns his back soon after, going to look behind Lord Hades' desk for something, and Hypnos uses that opportunity to float over to Lord Hades quickly. He can't save his family, he can't save Zagreus or the Queen or the Shade or his coworkers, but he can still help Lord Hades. He owes the man that much for dealing with his nonsense for eons.

"Hypnos!" Lord Hades hissed. "What are you doing?"

"Helping you," He pleaded, hands picking up the chains binding the rightful ruler of the Underworld. Maybe if he-

A laugh comes from Time, who turns around at the faintest sounds of the metal rattling. "Oh? And what have we here?"

Now is probably where Hypnos should say something badass like "You seriously think you can take over this House? Hah, that's brave of you!" or "You forgot someone, now I'm gonna kill you 'cause I'm a god and that's kinda how we settle things."

Instead what came out was a surprised laugh, followed by a "Oh, hey there!"

"Sleep," The Titan practically spat. "I knew I was forgetting something."

"You leave him alone, he poses no threat to you." Hades ordered.

"Oh, ouch, Lord Hades-" Hypnos laughed nervously.

"Hypnos." The god stared at him, which caused Hypnos to cower ever so slightly.

"Funny, because I've heard differently. You managed to put my own son to sleep during the humans Trojan War, did you not?" Chronos recalled.

Hypnos swallows hard, his mouth suddenly dry. "Uh, I-"

Chronos doesn't give him the luxury of finishing his sentence. He lunges at Hypnos, who teleports just out of reach of Chronos not a second too late. The Titan has the audacity to smile.

"A fancy trick." He muses. "Your brother tried the same thing not too long ago."

"Let me trade places with Lord Hades." Hypnos says before he can stop himself. What? What? That is actually such a bad idea why would he suggest that-

"Hypnos, what are you doing?!" Hades demands.

"I don't know!" Hypnos admits, but still stands in front of Chronos. He isn't a good shot- he isn't even an average shot, but damn it, he needs to do something. He needs to know he can do something good for once.

"You're not worth the energy to capture," Time purrs. "I should kill you were you stand."

"That's fine. Just let the Lord and the others go."

"An idiot and a romantic," Chronos' face contorts in anger. "What do you think this will get you, Sleep?"

"Probably further than you, haha!" Hypnos replies with far more confidence than he actually has. Chronos sees this as a challenge, and raises a hand in an apparent offer of a fight.

And like an idiot, Hypnos accepts it.

Hypnos teleports back to the lounge, sparing him just enough time to begin concentrating all his energy into a sleep spell. Anger seems to be a good motivator, as Hypnos can feel the spell thrumming with power. If he can focus for just a moment longer, he's sure he can craft something to trap Chronos for a long, long time.

So, of course, The Fates decide that won't happen (as if he needed more proof that they actually hated him and found his suffering amusing). Chronos finds him insanely quick, and Hypnos is forced to teleport back to the main hall again. All this use of his powers is making him feel sick (seriously, how does Than do this all the time? He's gonna ask him when it's over), but he pushes the feeling down. He has one goal, and damn it, he's seeing it through.

Chronos finds him again, but this time, he's moving far too fast. With a wave of his scythe, Chronos seems to have slowed time down for Hypnos, making his movements sluggish. Still, he aims the spell directly at Chronos, watching with unhidden satisfaction as it picks up speed when it nears the Titan. But instead of colliding with it and collapsing upon the House's floor, Chronos instead holds his scythe up again, hitting the spell with it

and aims it

right

back

at

him.

Oh fuck. Hypnos thinks. That's actually kind of smart.

It collides with Hypnos, right in the middle of his chest; hot and searing against his skin and- ow, ow, ow! Did he seriously make that? Huh, maybe he's not as useless as previously thought-

But then Hypnos realizes what that means, and he knows Chronos does too. He can already feel the magick working against him, and his eyes go wide with fear. Chronos smiles, tight and daunting.

"Sweet dreams, O' sleep." He jeers just as Hypnos looks at Lord Hades, who looks equally as terrified as Hypnos feels.

"I-I'm so sorry," He squeaked before teleporting away from the House.

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He appears in Elysian fields…or what he assumes is the Elysian fields. He actually isn't too sure. But it's very blue and smells faintly of grass and wine, so he thinks himself to be right. His hand grazes over his chest, right where Chronos had redirected his spell right back at him. It stings a little, but physically, he feels okay, so Chronos…Chronos just somehow managed to not hurt him, huh! Gods, he's lucky, especially if he ignores how he just left everybody in the House of Hades to presumably die!

That thought causes his lower lip to wobble, and pretty soon, he's crying, and then he's wailing. He's so…unremarkably stupid. Why didn't he step in sooner? Maybe if he did, he could've worked in tandem with Than or Mother Nyx. He could've held off Chronos for that much longer, maybe buying Lord Hades and Queen Persephone more time to figure out something clever like they always did. He hiccups, burying his face in his hands. He feels this childish urge to seek out Mother Nyx; to seek comfort in her shawl of darkness like he would after a bad dream.

But there's no mom to return to.

He wants to find his way to Thanatos, to talk out all his emotions so his twin could spit out logic and reasonings to calm him down from his own self deprecating thoughts.

But there's no brother to return to.

Above all else, he wants Zagreus. He wants to run into those big, strong arms and hide from the world. He wants to hide his face in his chest as the Prince whispers comforting words that only he can hear; wants Zagreus to kiss his face until he's blushed all over and feels remotely okay-

But there's no lover to return to.

A sharp, piercingly loud cry sounds from the distance, interrupting his pity party. Hypnos cautiously wipes his face, floating back up and following the source. It sounds like it's a baby's cry, which makes no sense, since Elysium is reserved for like…heroes or something like that. And the only baby he's aware of in the Underworld is little Mellie and-

shit.

He picks up his pace and eventually finds Hecate sat down by the banks of the Lethe, trying desperately to rock a crying Mellie in her arms. There's a large gathering of shades around her, all of them looking scared, but not helping her at all.

Hypnos isn't good at a lot of things, and that was further proven by the fact that he couldn't save a single person in the House from Chronos, but he does know he's good at calming Mellie down, having done it so effortlessly countless times before.

"Here, give her to me!" Hypnos stage whispered. Hecate looked up, a hand already poised to summon magick. Hypnos laughed nervously, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Ah! P-please don't vaporize me, it's just me!"

Hecate relaxes, the magick dissipating. "Lord Hypnos."

"Oh, there's no need for that. You're like…way older than me! Like, eons older! If anyone should be using honorifics, its me!"

Hecate shakes her head, exasperated. "You weren't followed?"

"Unless Chronos can follow someone who teleports, then nope!"

"Good," She bows her head. "What about the others? Did anyone else make it out?"

Hypnos looks down at his feet, already feeling tears welling up in his eyes again. He sniffles, turning away. Hecate takes this as answer enough, making a noise of sympathy.

"It's going to be alright, Lord Hypnos, we'll figure something out."

Little Mellie decides then is a perfectly good time to start wailing at the top of her lungs again. Hecate groans, going back to rocking her.

"Here, give her to me." Hypnos asks again as he wipes his face clean. Hecate carefully hands the little goddess over, muttering something about making sure to support her head. And, duh, Hypnos knows that, so he may or may not roll his eyes at the comment. He maneuvers his cloak so that it's wrapped around Little Mellie just as he begins rocking her.

"Shh, shh Mellie." Hypnos whispered. "I’m here now; gonna make things all better, mhm?"

It takes a few moments, but she eventually calms down, snuggling against his blanket as she eventually drifts off. Blissful silence fell between himself and the Titaness, which causes them both to let out a sigh of relief.

"I've been trying to calm her for ages. How'd you do that so quickly?"

"Probably helps that I'm the god of sleep," Hypnos admits. The Titaness nods in response as she stands up, the shades rising with her.

"Where are you headed?" Hypnos asks

"I know a place, between the Underworld and the Surface." Hecate supplies as she begins walking, Hypnos and the shades following in her wake. "I think we'll be safe there."

"Okay, that can work!" Hypnos tried to smile. "…And then what?"

"We gather our forces, find anyone else who's willing to fight against Chronos. Strategize from there, and bring death to Chronos."

"Death to Chronos," Hypnos repeats. "Haha, that has kinda a nice ring to it!"

Hecate doesn't reply, so therefore, Hypnos stays quiet. He's gotten better about that recently, or he's at least tried to. He knows a lot of people actually prefer silence over useless chatter, so he's tried to limit his rants to Zagreus and Thanatos only.

At that thought, he realizes belatedly that his chest is beginning to ache fiercely now, whether from grief or from…whatever Chronos had done to him, he's not sure, and he's not particularly keen on either option. He chooses to hold Little Mellie closer to himself, focusing on keeping her protected and happy. It's all he can do now, he figures.

"…It's a wasteland here." Hecate mutters after a while. "Chronos can't have already…"

"Well, uhm, I wouldn't know. I never left the House of Hades after Zeus almost like…actually electrocuted me death." Hypnos blurts.

Hecate shot him a confused look, but ignored his comment. "We should hurry, I'd rather. not turn us all into targets for Chronos."

"Okie dokie!" He nodded, trying to match pace with the witch. The ache in his chest was only growing, and now he felt it spread to his limbs; exhaustion setting in. It was different than the exhaustion he always felt; more needy, more potent. "Okay," he thinks "Now this is really starting to freak me out. Whatever, just keep fighting it, just ignore it. You're sleep, for crying out loud! How stupid would it be that your own domain betrays you? "

"Uh, Hecate?"

A sigh. "Yes, Lord Hypnos?"

Hypnos wanted to remind her that she was eons older than he was, but his limbs began feeling heavier by the second, like he was physically being weighed down. This was kicking his ass a lot more than he'd care to admit.

"Can you hold Mellie? I'm-" A yawn. "I'm getting really tired, and I don't want to drop her, haha!"

Hecate's eyes narrowed as they continued walking. "Can't you wait? We're almost to where we need to be. We can't risk having Chronos finding us now."

"Um," He yawned, louder and longer this time, his eyes closing involuntarily. "I think…No, no I can't!"

What did Chronos do to me? Why can't I resist this?

"Pardon?" Hecate asked, turning around to look at him with a concerned look in her eyes.

"D-did I," Another yawn. He shifted Mellie in his arms so he could have a hand free to rub his eyes. "…Did I say something?"

"Give me the child," Hecate commanded, which, gods, you didn't need to tell Hypnos twice! He felt like he was two seconds away from dropping her, and something tells him that the Queen would not be too happy about that! He moved closer to Hecate, pawning off the swaddle to her. His movements were clumsy, and he tripped over his own feet despite floating, bumping into Hecate.

"Sorry, sorry!" He fretted, his limbs feeling like they were made of lead. Why was he so tired? He felt like he could barely move now, and he had no energy left to push himself off of Hecate, no matter how awkward their position was. A few of the shades that had followed them from the House looked at him, their heads tilting in curiosity masked as concerned.

"I don't feel good," He admitted, his eyes closing, and this time, he lacked the energy to open them back up. He heard Hecate make a noise of panic as he slumped forward, but he couldn't register any actual words she was saying. Gods, he was exhausted. More than exhausted- can that even happen? Is there a word for that? Blood and darkness, say what you want about Chronos, but he got Hypnos good.

His last thought before sleep pulled him under thankfully was not how he got his ass handed to him by the Titan of Time, but rather, of a gentler, kinder soul: Zagreus. A lingering hope that somehow, some way, Lady Hecate could find a way to solve all this mess and bring him back home- back to him.

For now, he dreams, until such time.

Chapter Text

"Time, and it's ever growing nature, kept ticking on. Denizens of the Underworld now leak to the Surface above, wrecking havoc on cities such as Ephyra. The world, shrouded in darkness, seems to be poised to be one of the many things lost to Times grasp. But Time, as it seems, stops for no one, and allows for the growth of one fearsome Princess of the Underworld."

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"Oh, quiet, Homer." Melinoë mumbles under her breath as she narrowly avoids getting hit by Scylla. She's been trying to make her way down to the House of Hades for an odd number of nights now with varying levels of success. She can get through Erebus and Hecate's test in no time at all, but she's been having significant trouble within Oceanus. In fact, she hasn't once gotten past Scylla yet. She's positive that if she had the right set of blessings and maybe just one more Arcana card unlocked, she'd surely beat that monsters ass.

It just might not exactly be this time she reigns victorious.

"Ungh, no!" She involuntarily yelps, feeling the world grow dark around her as Jetty aims an attack at her, the pain blindingly hot. "Return to shadow, now..!"

She hears Scylla laugh maniacally as she casts her spell, and Melinoë would love nothing more than to stab that monster free from her seashell, show her that yes, I am competent enough to beat you, but tonight is not the night she gets the last laugh. With an exhale and a clever use of her magick, her spell is complete, and just like that, she's back in the Crossroads.

She's angry when she comes back, the bitter emotion coursing through her blood. She felt she was so close that time, and still, it wasn't enough. It never was, it feels like, and that idea frustrates her beyond belief.

She takes a moment to try and compose herself, adrenaline leaving her body as she exhales slowly. After a few moments, her lingering blood lust eventually subdues, and she feels somewhat back to normal. From there, she calmly makes her way through the Crossroads, being sure to greet everyone she passes by (and yes, that does include Eris, as much as that girl irks her at times).

After some playful banter with Odysseus, she finds herself wandering towards Lord Hypnos' area. It's a normal routine for her, even if she has no real connection with the god. Headmistress Hecate would sometimes tell her that when she was little-back before Chronos had ruined everything-she and Lord Hypnos were close. The Headmistress liked to remind her of the time they fled the house, and how Lord Hypnos was the only one to calm her down. Melinoë thinks the story is nice, but she doubts there was ever a time she was close to the god. She was just a baby back then. She had no concepts of familial relationships even before Time had gone and taken everything from her. She doesn't know Lord Hypnos' personality, what he likes, what he doesn't like…not even his own siblings in the Crossroads knew him that well, at least from what she can tell.

Eris never mentions Lord Hypnos, which Melinoë supposes might be on her part, given she tries to avoid Strife as much as she can get away with. Moros and Nemesis both bring him up sparingly, but it seems neither of them were particularly close with him even before they all got into this mess. The only family member of Lord Hypnos that seems to give him the time of day is Lord Charon, who will check on the sleeping god whenever he visits the Crossroads. He'll fix his blanket, brush his hair out of his face, tuck him in. Melinoë would sometimes ask him about the god, but Lord Charon would respond with nothing more than a hiss or a groan.

'He'll wake up soon. He has to.'

Melinoë thinks that, in a way, she can relate to Lord Charon. She knows what it's like to be separated from ones family, to feel like all you can do is hope to The Fates that things will get better. She tries to show her empathy through words, but Lord Charon's never been much for conversation, so she prays that the coin she gives him is proof enough that she's with him all the way.

In her reminiscing, she notices then that poppies surrounding Lord Hypnos' resting place are overgrown; unattended to for longer than she cares to admit. She's in no rush to leave, so she takes the time to pluck a few from the ground, adding them to the growing pile on the gods hammock. Not only does this help with the overgrowth of poppies in this area, but it adds a sort of aesthetic to the clearing, and Melinoë believes everyone deserves somewhere nice to sleep each night.

Her hand brushes against his slender arm as she tucks the last of the poppies against him, nothing more than a slight graze, but still, it causes him to stir. His face screws up, and he mumbles something under his breath about making sure to try stepping out of the way of Hydras.

"Sorry, Lord Hypnos." She whispered, until she realizes Lord Hypnos just spoke. He seems to settle back into whatever dream he was having before, and now Melinoë was shaking at his arm again.

"Lord Hypnos? Did you say something?"

His expression shifts once more, eyebrows knitting together and his head turning away from her slightly. Even still, he never truly wakes, and the second she lets go of his arm, he settles back into his blanket, his snores picking up again. Melinoë swears under her breath.

"It's then an idea comes to her; an incantation she could make. One, that perhaps, could rouse The Son of Nyx from his seemingly eternal slumber and-"

"Homer, please, I'm thinking." Melinoë deadpans. The recipe crafts itself in her mind as she grabs a few poppies from Lord Hypnos' collection, pocketing them alongside some moly and mandrakes she'd planted ages ago but never got around to using.

Walking to the cauldron, she can't help but feel the slightest shreds of guilt creep into her. She should be already throwing herself back down into Erebus, should be tearing her way through Oceanus so she can finally beat that damned monstrous band. But then she thinks of Lord Charon, ever busy in his work, still stopping by to ensure his brother's comfort. If she's not making progress with bringing death to Chronos, she can at least mend other issues in the meantime.

The incantation was done before she knew it, so with haste, she plucked it from the cauldron and made her way back to where Lord Hypnos was still fast asleep. Shakily, she holds the spell in her hands, outstretched towards the god.

Please. She thinks. Please, Fates, I need something to go right for me at least once this night.

She casts the incantation, involuntarily giving instructions to Lord Hypnos she knows he can't hear or understand. She closes her eyes as she feels the magick envelop the space around them, and when she opens them, she's seemingly in a dream.

Starlight gleams all around her; swirls of reds and purples flittering through twinkling stars. She smiles, letting a hand idly glide through the air around her as she walks. The Night fades into a long corridor of a place she doesn't recognize, cardboard cutouts of shades filling themselves into a line. Off to the side, there's a cutout of a figure she does not recognize, standing over a blue chaise. The whole scene is, decidedly, very childish, but it warms her in a way she can't fully explain. At least he's having a peaceful sleep, it seems.

Stepping over a list whose words bleed into the floor, she finally finds Lord Hypnos, tucked away in the corner and still fast asleep. Overhead, a cutout of a very angry looking Hades looms over them both. She frowns, brows furrowing.

"Still fast asleep…even here?" She whispers to herself. Cautiously, she reaches a hand out towards him, shaking him on the shoulder.

"Lord Hypnos! I'm Melinoë, daughter of Hades, can you hear me?"

He turns slightly, his expression souring. "a…awake…'m…" He trails off, snuffling.

"Lord Hypnos, please, I-I'm trying to help, to wake you up! Tell me what I can do, and I'll help you!"

The god does not reply with anything more than a snore, leaving Melinoë feeling defeated. She withdraws her hand, looking around the dream. Maybe there's something in here she can use? Her eyes instinctively find themselves back to the cutout of her father, staring down at them both with an angry expression. She doesn't know why, but in that moment, it just feels like the right choice to reach out towards it. The second her fingertips graze the smooth cardboard, the dream seems to shift. The air around her grows stuffy and hot, and a booming voice yells across the expansive void.

"Hypnos!" It growls, deep and echoing. The cutout shifts, morphing into something so lifelike- yet so terrifying, that despite it being her own father, sends a shiver down her spine. It moves, grabbing Lord Hypnos by his throat and pulling him up to be eye level with him.

"I don't know why I bother with you." He hisses as Sleep Incarnates expression turns to one of pain. Melinoë can only watch in terror as the scene turns the once peaceful dream into a nightmare.

All at once, she can feel some force pushing her away from where she resides. The edges of her visions darken, akin to how they'd do when one is about to lose consciousness. The last image she has of the scene is Lord Hypnos' eyes shooting wide open in horror, apologies tumbling out from his lips towards her father as the dream collapses in on itself.

.

.

.

Awakening back in the Crossroads, Melinoë stumbles, involuntarily letting out a yelp. At once, Odysseus abandons his post, calling out to her as he runs over.

"Everything okay over here, Goddess?" Odysseus asks, putting a hand on her back to steady her. "You look positively rattled."

"Lord Hypnos was trying to wake right now." She replies, her voice shaking. Odysseus hums, taking the knife he always held and stepping closer to the god.

"Odysseus!" She hissed.

"What? What'd you think I'm gonna do, stab the poor guy? He's already dead to the world, what good would that serve me?" Odysseus laughs bitterly, poking Lord Hypnos in the cheek with the butt of the knife. The god didn't even so much as stir at the contact.

"He…still seems pretty asleep to me, Goddess." Odysseus chuckles, pocketing the knife.

"Well I know that," She huffs. "I just…thought I'd be able to do something, is all."

"You tried waking him?" Odysseus guesses. Melinoë nods.

"With an incantation, though it didn't work."

Odysseus brings a hand to his face, posing in a thoughtful manner. "…Well, I suppose if anyone's bound to wake him, it's going to be you."

"I'm in no need of useless flattery, Odysseus. If the spell didn't work, then clearly-"

"Excuse me, but what did you do to my Goddess?" Odysseus wraps an arm around her, pulling her into a tight but comforting hug. "The Melinoë I know never gives up. You said the incantation didn't work, so go and find the reason why."

Melinoë considers his words. If her own idea didn't work, maybe she can seek guidance in another sorceress. Headmistress wouldn't approve of this side quest, she knows that without even having to ask. She knows that Headmistress will politely, but sternly, remind her of her true task: Death to Chronos, but…

Well it's not like that's going particularly well for her. And there are other concerns she's neglected in her quest to kill Time itself. Concerns she can only access through the Surface, a place she's only visited a handful of times since breaking the Fates curse on her bloodline. There's someone she can visit that can help her out with this situation and give her guidance in other aspects of her journey; kill two birds with one stone, or whatever it is that mortals say.

"Thank you, Odysseus." She smiles, having made up her mind.

"Don't thank me, I haven't done anything." He playfully replies, already making his way back to his post. And with that, Melinoë sets off again, but this time, towards the surface. She makes sure to grab a bottle of nectar before heading out, assuming that Lady Medea will be more likely to lend her aid if she offers her something in return.

Entering into the cool night air, Melinoë doesn't think she'll ever get used to the feeling of fresh air in her lungs. It stings, but isn't something she abhors- far from it, actually. Maybe when all of this is over, she'll take Zagreus up to the surface and show him all he is missing. Which, at this current point in time, isn't much but a ruined city overran with monsters and lost shades, but that's besides the point.

She manages to make her way through Ephyra surprisingly quick, and immediately bounds to where Lady Medea resides. The room she lives in smells strongly of blood, no doubt from the piles of skinned sheep and monsters surrounding her cauldron. Lady Medea seems to be in the middle of mixing a potion, but when she hears Melinoë enter, she smiles, talking as she continues to work.

"Melinoë, what a welcomed surprise." She greeted. "To what do I owe you the pleasure? It's been a many night since you've last come by."

"I apologize for my absence." She says with a bow, to which Lady Medea waves her off. "I've been rather busy as of late trying to get to Chronos."

"And how has that been fairing for you?" She asks.

"It's been…slow progress, but progress nonetheless."

"That's all we can hope for," She muses, tossing a sprig of mandrake root into her cauldron. The concoction bubbles, fragrant and green. "So you've decided to give things up here a try in the meantime, I'm guessing?"

"Yes, but I also come with an inquiry." Melinoë chooses then to hand Lady Medea the bottle of nectar. "If you'd be so kind?"

"Oh you don't know how badly I needed this right about now." Lady Medea groans, taking the bottle and setting it aside with care. "What is it you wish to know?"

"It's to do with Lord Hypnos," She explains, happy that Lady Medea is giving her the time of day, or in this case, night. "He's still in deep sleep, and earlier I tried to rouse him with an incantation, though it didn't work. I was able to see into his dream, but…the whole thing turned all dark before collapsing in on itself. It was all rather odd."

Lady Medea hums, drumming her fingers on her forearm. "Were you able to communicate with him at all?"

"I think he understood me when I spoke to him..? He was asleep even within the dream, so whatever put him in such a state has got him under pretty deep."

Lady Medea walks over to a barrel, of which Melinoë assumes is where she keeps her ingredients for spells. "What exactly did you use?"

"Mandrake roots, poppies, and a bit of moly." She lists off.

"It was smart to use poppies, seeing as they are associated with him," She thinks out loud, pursing her lips. "hmm…why don't you keep the poppies, but add these instead of the moly and mandrake?"

Lady Medea hands her a satchel filled with soot, alongside with a few seeds of Shaderot. Melinoë accepts them both gratefully.

"Thank you so much for this, Lady Medea." Melinoë says as she puts them in her pocket. "I'll be sure to try that out once I get back to the crossroads."

"Once you manage to wake him, do send him my regards." Lady Medea smiles, already going back to the spell she was working on. "He aided me once long ago, and though the outcome was not…pleasant, I will always remember the kindness he extended my way."

"I'll do my best, Lady Medea. And, you'll have to tell me that story someday, I'd love to hear it." Melinoë smiles politely.

"Or you can ask him, once you do finally wake him." Lady Medea offers, not as a dismissal, but a show of faith. "I believe in you Melinoë, may darkness guide you."

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.

.

Melinoë managed to make it just past Polyphemus before succumbing to a Sea-Shambler, but for once, the failure doesn't bother her. This time, she has a task waiting for her when she gets home. She has to wait a bit for the Shaderot to sprout, but once it does, she's already rushing to the cauldron to craft the incantation.

"The strongest dreams shall shatter if they must." She whispers just as the spell comes to fruition. Cradling the magick in her hands, she makes her way back over to where Lord Hypnos resides, ever-sleeping. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself as the spell gets cast, once more plunging her into a calm darkness, filling her head to toe with a weightless feeling.

This time, she lands in an already formed dream. No starlight or pure night surrounds her, but instead, she finds herself standing upon plush blankets and pillows. The room smells faintly of incense; cinnamon-y and earthy. Overall, it's quite cozy.

She walks lackadaisically with her hands behind her back when she begins to hear voices of people she doesn't recognize.

"It pleases me to know you've grown this much, child." A woman's voice echoes.

"It's a shame I've ever doubted you." A mans voice now says, deep but full of pride. She peeks from the corner, seeing the source of the two figures. The woman is tall and ghostly pale, practically white and glowing. Her hair is black as the night itself, of which she assumes the figure is. Goddess of the night, Mother Nyx.

The man looks…sort of like Lord Hypnos, but if he were more muscular and tan. And if his hair were straight. And if he seemed to have a permanent frown. So…maybe nothing like the god, but still similar in the face. Death, Lord Thanatos.

They look real…ish. It's hard to describe. On the one hand, they're corporal in this realm; living and breathing and speaking, nothing like the cardboard cutouts she'd seen from his last dream. But yet, something is still decidedly off. She doesn't know them, she never had the luxury to (or if she did, she doesn't remember), but even she knows that there's something wrong. Is it their voice? Their stance? The words they speak? She's not entirely sure, but it fills her with dread.

Floating beside the two is Lord Hypnos, all smiles. He looks different than what she's used to. His hair is shorter and curlier, and the blanket he's always wrapped in is now worn as a cape. "Aw, jeez, really? Gosh, that-that's so nice! Of course, you guys are always nice but the reminder is much appreciated!"

She can't believe her eyes. Once the shock of it all wears off, a smile spreads across her face. I did it. She thinks. I actually did it!

She disregards being cordial, electing to run towards the family.

"Lord Hypnos!" She calls out. "Oh my gods, you've no idea how-how long I've-"

Mother Nyx and Lord Thanatos look behind themselves, both staring at her as though she's made some great offense. She's about to apologize, maybe even bow because- oh my gods I'm in front of two very powerful and very old gods- but then they just…

Then they just disappear as though they were never there in the first place. Lord Hypnos seems confused by their sudden departure, tilting his head as his smile fades.

"Huh? Where'd you guys go?" Lord Hypnos asks aloud, his voice taking on a nervous edge. "I thought you guys were staying?"

"Lord Hypnos, forgive me for intruding," Melinoë bows her head. "I'm-"

"Thanatos?" He ignores her as he floats down, now standing. "Mother Nyx? Guys, this isn't funny!"

"Lord Hypnos?" She asks, quieter this time, but still there is no reply. In fact, Lord Hypnos proceeds to walk straight through her, as if she's not in this dream at all.

"Is this some game of hide and seek?" He asks, then laughs. "You guys know I suck at this! C'mon, this isn't fair!"

She stands there, dumbly for a moment. Did the spell not work? No, surely it did, for Lady Medea has never wronged her before. Lord Hypnos starts walking around the dream, narrating his actions. It's incredibly eerie, but then he stops, sighing.

"They'll be back when I wake up!" He assures himself. "They always are!"

It seems like he's heading to lie down, and Melinoë knows that's a problem. She can't go through these motions again, she refuses to. She needs something to go right for once, and that starts with waking this damned god up. It starts with bringing Lord Charon his brother back.

"Lord Hypnos, wait!" She cries, reaching out just as he's about to pass her again. She half expects to phase through him, but she manages to grab onto the gods bony arm. He flinches and turns to look at her with wide eyes, but she can tell he can't truly see her; that he's looking just beyond herself.

"Who are you?!" He shrieks, trying to push her off of him despite not knowing where she is. "What-what did you do?!"

"I," She falters, pulling back from him. "I'm trying to help you! Lord Hypnos, I'm-"

"Stop, stop!" He yells. "I-I don't know what you are, or, um, where you are for that matter! but, um…I really, really don't want you here! I just wanted to see my family!"

"Lord Hypnos, please calm down, I didn't mean to frighten you!" She says, panicked. Lord Hypnos turns away, going to the furthest corner of the room and crouching down.

"I can fix this, I can fix this," He repeats under his breath, his voice shrill. "I'm strong, I'm capable, I-I know what I'm doing-"

The room around her shakes, and she notices belatedly that Lord Hypnos is trying to close off the dream.

"Lord Hypnos, stop!" She cries, but he shakes his head, continuing to mutter whatever mantra he was saying before. The room begins to fade, chunks of it eroding away and falling into darkness. With her pleas falling on deaf ears, there's nothing she can do to stop the dream from collapsing. In a last ditch attempt to stay, she grabs onto Lord Hypnos once again. She manages to avoid being pulled away alongside the rest of the dream, but she feels Lord Hypnos fighting against her; flat palms and feet pushing against her with all their might. Part of her wonders if she's doing the right thing, given how much he's fighting this, but the other part doesn't care. She set off on a mission, and gods damn it, she's going to see it through.

Lord Hypnos disappears somehow in the chaos, leaving her alone. With him gone, she notices how terribly empty the space around her is. It's dark every which way she looks. There's no noise, no light, no smell. She can't tell which way is up, or which way is down. And for a while, that's all there is.

She wonders if this will ever end, if she'll ever reach solid ground.

And that's when it appears.

Parchment and ink; the faint smell of brimstone and ash. Standing in the middle is Lord Hypnos, still looking the same as he did before. He's shaking and holding his blanket close to himself, looking around wildly.

"Lord Hypnos!" She calls out again. He freezes, his face blanching.

"No, no, no! Why are you still here? I did everything right!" He sputtered.

"Lord Hypnos, please, I just want to talk." She says, trying to sound as calming as she can as she slowly approaches. "I'm sorry for startling you, but I promise you, I don't mean to cause you harm or distress."

"Just leave me alone," He whispers. "You can help by leaving! I don't know who or where you are, but you're not even supposed to be here! I'm asleep!"

"I'm trying to wake you," She explains, ignoring his pleas. "Why are you so against that? Why is that you don't wish to wake up?"

As the words leave her mouth, harsh scribbles appear all around them. Each one is read out by a different childlike scribble, two of which she recognizes from earlier; Lord Thanatos and Mother Nyx.

"Hypnos, you're not irreplaceable, you understand? If you don't shape up, quickly, someone else is going to have your job."

"Remember what we previously spoke of, Hypnos. Do not address me thus whilst we are here. Conduct yourself as befitting a servant of the House of Hades...and, continue practicing your independence, please."

Lord Hypnos lets out a whimper, putting his hands over his ears as he sinks to the ground. "Stop, stop this! This isn't funny anymore!"

"Lord Hypnos," She asks, looking around as more writing appears. "What is this?"

"Mister Hypnos, I have trouble getting through to him, I think? He gives me plenty of advice, it's just, it isn't really why I talk to him. I...only talk to him when I don't have a lot of other choices, I guess." A gorgons head admits.

"I'll just keep talking to him so no one else has to." A man who-…gods, that looks like Zagreus.

Hypnos laughs bitterly at that, but when he speaks, it sounds like he's on the verge of tears. "I forgot he said that about me."

More and more voices speak, none of them being people she recognizes. All of them are insults or threats, and all of them are against Lord Hypnos. You'd think this guy was the worst person ever with how these voices spoke to him.

"Every time I talk to you, you somehow take it as a compliment, is that correct? Then, let me give you some advice, for once. Stop being an idiot." A woman with a mean face and blue skin snaps.

"Enough! Blood and darkness, that's enough from you, just...see to it the ledger of the dead is accurate, and get back to your post. Ugh, would that you could be more like your brother." Her father curses.

"Lord Hypnos," She has to yell to be heard over the voices. "What is this? Why…why is this happening?"

"I don't know!" He hiccups. "Just make this stop, please! Wh-whatever you want, I'll do it! Just make them stop!"

Melinoë's eyes widen. "Oh gods, I'm causing this?"

Lord Hypnos doesn't acknowledge her comment, instead he wipes tears from his eyes, pleading to her again. "Please, please, just make this stop!"

"I don't know how! I-I didn't even know this was something I could do!" She admits, guilt weighing heavy on her heart. Gods, all she wanted to do was help, and now she's gone and hurt the poor guy.

Lord Hypnos puts his head against his knees, sniffling. "Of course you can't! This is hopeless,"

"No, Lord Hypnos!" She yells back, wishing nothing more that he could see her in whatever dream he was under. She wished she could make him see that she wasn't something to be feared, that she wouldn't ever try to hurt him so.

"Lord Hypnos, please, please wake up! I can't- I don't know how to stop this, but I do know that if you wake up, it'll be over."

"No it won't, sorry to break it to you Random Voice Lady!" He laughs, and Melinoë thinks that sound has to be one of the worse she's ever heard; so clearly unhappy and bitter. She hates that she's the cause of it.

"It's better for me here. I've never done much of anything when I'm awake, haha! I mean, duh, I'm the god of sleep! Everyone's better off if I stay like this."

"Lord Hypnos, that's not true!" Melinoë tries to reason with him. "Your brother, he wants you back! He stops by every time he can and the first thing he does is check up on you. He's worried, you know, as are others."

"Thanatos?" He asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"No, but Lord Charon." She admits.

"Charon…" Lord Hypnos sounds wistful. "Oh gods, what have I done?"

"We can fix this, Lord Hypnos. Just please, wake up." Melinoë soothes, cautiously putting a hand on Lord Hypnos' back. He shivers, but this time, doesn't fight the contact. The voices begin to die down, to which they both sigh in relief.

"There's…I promise you, nothing like this exists in the waking realm. Please, Lord Hypnos, wake up and let me talk to you properly. Let me see you eye to eye."

"…I don't know you." He whispers cautiously. "But I feel like I should? I don't recognize your voice, but I think you're someone I can still trust. Haha, who even are you?"

"I'm-" Melinoë tries to say, but the parchment begins to melt away from her feet. She looks at him with wide eyes.

"You're waking up!"

"What can I say? I trust you, Random Voice Lady." He smiles, looking in the opposite direction to where she is.

.

.

.

Melinoë wakes up on the ground, a gasp escaping her lungs. She immediately looks at Lord Hypnos, who yawns loudly, stretching with his eyes still closed.

"Lord Hypnos!" She stands up, getting to his side in an instant. He yawns again, putting his hands over his face and mumbling something incoherent.

"Oh, gods, um, let me go get someone- Odysseus! Headmistress!" Melinoë yells, running to go grab them both. Within the second, Headmistress Hecate is at Odysseus' post, the two of them looking at her with concern.

"What is it, Goddess?" Odysseus asks, putting steady hands on both her shoulders.

"It's Lord Hypnos, he's waking up."

"Oh shit," Odysseus curses, already heading over to where Lord Hypnos resides. Once the three of them get there, they see him, still barely waking up. But once he sees Melinoë his eyes go wide, hands covering his mouth in shock. Immediately, she gains a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Oh gods…" He whispers, his voice full of emotion. "…Mellie?"

Chapter Text

"The forever dreaming god of sleep, now awoken from his slumber, finds himself in an unfamiliar land. No longer does he reside in a dreamlike state, nor is he in the familiar brimstone halls of the House of Hades, but rather, in a land full of strangers and in a body he no longer recognizes."

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Hypnos woke up slower than molasses.

Normally, he could snap awake at the drop of the hat (or, really, the sound of Zagreus' loud footsteps, or his brothers signature gong, or Lord Hades' impossibly loud voice. He was a surprisingly light sleeper, believe it or not). To be fair, it's not like he had a choice, considering how all three of those people expected so much of him! But this kind of sleep refused to leave him. All his muscles ached terribly, and he had a sort of acrid taste in his mouth, like he'd been snoring all day/night.

He rubbed his eyes with his blanket, sighing as he finally managed to peel his eyes open. He didn't recognize the space around himself, which made him feel a bit nervous. The ground, the air, even the hammock he was sitting on was unfamiliar. He turned his head side to side, noticing two different shades supporting him. He offered them both a sympathetic smile. Didn't they know he could keep himself afloat indefinitely?

Coming from his right, he noticed that there were three figures walking towards him, all with looks ranging from mild amusement to genuine concern. Of the three, he recognized only Hecate, that Titaness he fled the House with. There was a mortal with blue-ish black hair trailing after another goddess, but neither of them were people he recognized. At least not at first glance.

But as they got closer, he felt his stomach drop. The Goddess, short with blonde hair and mismatched eyes, was terrifyingly familiar. Someone he knew, but now almost entirely unrecognizable. He couldn't help but gasp, covering his mouth with his hands.

"Oh gods…" He whispered. "…Mellie?"

"It's nice to finally meet you, Lord Hypnos." The goddess says with a hesitant bow. Hypnos sort of wants to laugh at her. First off, bowing? At him? Seriously? Gods above, his mom- sorry, Mother Nyx wouldn't believe him in a million years. More importantly…this genuinely can't be Mellie. She's too…grown. Too mature with too large of a vocabulary for someone who was a baby not even five minutes ago. Sure, some gods grew up quickly, but that was preposterous for Little Mellie. She's no Hermes, after all!

"Wait, wait, that's not right, I'm sorry!" And now he really was laughing, loud and stuttering. "Y-you can't be Mellie. She's still just a little baby. She, like- fits in my arms like this!"

He mimed holding a baby, then looked back to her with an impossibly wide grin.

"You're also too, um, y'know, big to be Mellie! Not like, big big, but, um…taller? Older?"

The goddess shot a nervous glance at Hecate, then looked back to him. She looked remorseful. "Lord Hypnos, you're not mistaken. I'm-"

"And, besides, I like- just fell asleep? So, um, if you can maybe show me where she is? I think the Queen'll kill me if I lost her, haha!"

"Gods above, this guy's a nutcase," The shade mumbles under his breath, the comment thinly (and poorly) veiled with a hand covering his mouth. The Goddess shoots him a dirty look, but says nothing.

"Lord Hypnos, that's enough." Hecate says, waving a hand. "Do you not remember what happened prior to you falling asleep?"

"What happened?" He parroted. What did happen? Just a bit ago, he was holding Little Mellie, floating through Elysium when…when…

"Oh." He said dumbly, the memories hitting him all at once. Hearing Zagreus and Thanatos be taken away so quickly by Time. Chronos beating him so embarrassingly fast in front of Lord Hades. His last memory being of how he longed for better times.

His heart was beating so loud at this point, he was sure everyone around him could hear it. "Oh gods, no, no, no, no!"

Needing to expel this horrible, sinking feeling growing inside him, he tried directing the energy into tugging on his hair. A reflexive bad habit from his youth. But as his hand found itself in his hair, he realized just how long it had gotten. Once tight curls were now nothing more than waves, weighed down by their length.

This body didn't feel like his own. He sort of felt sick as he kept tugging on a strand of hair, looking distantly at the ground.

"It can't have…" He trails off, feeling just how long his hair was now. "…I just fell asleep..?"

"Why don't you come with me, Lord Hypnos?" Hecate offered him a hand. "We can talk more in private."

"What happened?" He asked, though it came out sounding more like a demand. He got up from where he had just been sleeping for gods knows how long, bare feet touching touching scratchy, dying grass. He brushes past the shade and Adult-Mellie (can't really call her Little anymore, can he?) without a word, which is probably very rude, but he couldn't care that much at the moment. Hecate walks in front of him, guiding him through…wherever they are. Hypnos can feel dozens of shades staring at him, and he wants nothing more than to curl up in a ball and die on the spot. Yeah, he loves attention, craves it actually! But that's really only the case when he's done something spectacular or noteworthy, like making it on the Board for Featured House Servant or getting through the endless line of Shades in the House. Being ogled at for simply being awake (which judging by the shades' whispers, was something no one expected) made him feel more like a mockery than a god.

Hecate eventually brought him to what seemed to be the farthest spot of whatever camp she had set up. There's two shades guarding some kind of stone slab with a red rune painted on it, and Hypnos can faintly hear rushing water from behind it.

"Hecate- Lady Hecate." He corrected. "What is this place? Where is everybody- my brothers, o-or the Queen or Zagreus or-"

"Breath, Lord Hypnos." She commands, seemingly already annoyed with him (which is nothing new. He knows he's always been a bit too much for most people). "You remember they were captured by Chronos, do you not?"

"Well, duh, I know that! I was there!" He shakes his head. "But it's been how long since that happened? Surely the whole Chronos thing has blown over!"

Hecate has a look of remorse in her eyes. She lowers her head, her hat obstructing her face and- gods, Charon does the same exact thing. How he longs for his older brother right now!

With remorse, Hecate begins to explain everything he had missed since Chronos had gone and handed his ass to him. She talked quiet and slow as she began to recount the past however-long-its-been, leaving Hypnos with a sinking feeling that only gets worse the longer she goes on.

Not only had Hypnos slept through Mellies whole childhood, but he also managed to snore through an entire war and Olympus being taken over by the Father of All Monsters. People from the Crossroads (which is where they were, apparently) were supposedly "trying their best" in the fight against Time, but…

Well, considering the fact that Hecate couldn't look him in the eye when he asked how that was going, he knew how they really were fairing in this war.

At some point, Hecate had to be swept away to go tend to other duties, leaving him standing by the gates where she had brought him. Alone (spared for the two shades at the gate, but he's gonna act like they don't exist if that's okay) with his thoughts now, he feels this growing ache in his chest that he really hasn't felt since Thanatos told him he wasn't irreplaceable. The feeling that no one is there for him; even the ones- his family- who should be.

Hypnos thinks that being alone was the worst fate any god or mortal could be subjected to. To be completely forgotten and disregarded with no valid reason as to how or why. And once upon a time, Hypnos felt like he'd been exactly so. The House of Hades, in all its imposing glory, could be quite lonely at times. Sure, there were Shades to greet and coworkers to annoy, but for eons and eons, he didn't really have anyone he could wholeheartedly say he confided in. Achilles was too mopey, Dusa too high-strung, and his own family worlds away.

It…hurt, decidedly. When his brother said he was replaceable, or when his Mother denied him the simple desire of her comfort. He just liked their company! Was that really such a crime, wanting to be around them? And was he truly so repulsive and annoying that they wanted anything but? Apparently so, considering how little it seemed they cared about his emotions.

Of course, that story had a happy ending. He did fix his relationship with his twin, and he and his Mother did speak to each other again. But now, with them taken from him, he ironically realizes he'd do anything to return to that time. He knows now how stupid he was. He wasn't alone in the House, because at least then, if he really wanted to, he could just go down the hall to look at his Mother or Thanatos.

Now, he doesn't know where they are. For all he knows, they could be cut into tiny pieces and spread across Tartarus like Chronos had been, and he'd be none the wiser because he was asleep.

A shaky breath leaves him as he sinks to the ground, pulling his knees to his chest and resting his head on them. He pulls his blanket tight around himself, unblinking so as to avoid tears from falling. Maybe if he stops thinking for a minute, he can pretend everything is okay. He can pretend that he's in some dream instead of…wherever this place is. What did Hecate say, The Crossroads? Yeah, he'd like to pretend he was back in the House in his endless toil, pretty please. Back to a place that felt stifling most of the time, but was still full of familiar faces and normal interactions. Back to where he knew the names and personalities of everyone he saw, and his work, though annoying, was something he took pride in.

Back where he actually had someone to talk to- to confide in.

…

He's supposed to be the god equivalent of grown up. He's gone and defied both the King of the Gods and Time Itself (both horribly, but he thinks it should still count). He shouldn't be crying that he's somewhere unfamiliar, or that he doesn't recognize most of the people there. Even still, the tears still betray him, falling down his cheeks and soaking into his chiton.

Alone.

He's really all alone.

…

He doesn't know how long he sits there, wallowing in self pity, but he's sure it was an embarrassingly long time. At some point, he'd stop crying entirely, instead electing to look numbly at the dying grass around himself. His hand absentmindedly combs through knotted hair, still trying to get used to how much his body had changed without his approval.

He feels thinner, for one thing. Gods don't need to eat, not the way mortals do, but he's sure being asleep for so long can't have done him any good. His gorget feels loose on his throat, moving each time he breathes or dares to shift his body.

Mentally, though, he feels like a kid, or whatever the god equivalent of that is. It's a similar feeling to how he felt when Mother Nyx had gone and made everyone stuffed animals except for himself. Dejected, unloved, and wishing that somebody cared enough to realize that.

But it seems as though this time, someone finally did.

"Lord Hypnos?"

Hypnos jolts, looking up to see Mellie standing just beside him, her brows creased in worry.

"Sorry, did I startle you?" She asked gently.

"No, no it's okay!" He put on his best smile, looking her up and down. She's a lot taller, which is to be expected! It's not like she could have stayed a baby forever, after all. "…So, you're Mellie, huh? I'm not making that up?"

Mellie bowed her head. "You'd be correct. I know I said it before, but its nice to finally meet you."

"Wow," He practically breathes the word, standing up. He places his hands on her shoulders, looking at her with pride. "You're all grown up now!"

Mellie smiles warmly in his hold. "Headmistress did say you knew me when I was little."

Hypnos barks out a laugh. "Don't suppose you remember anything of me?"

"I was only just a baby, Lord Hypnos," Mellie rubs the back of her neck awkwardly. Hypnos frowns, letting go of her.

"You don't gotta call me that, Mellie. Just Hypnos is fine!"

"Well then, Hypnos," Mellie makes a strange face when she says his name. Jeez, just how strict was Hecate in raising the poor girl? "I understand you might be a bit…overwhelmed at the moment- being somewhere you're not familiar with. If you don't mind, I can show you around a bit?"

Hypnos rubs the dead ends of his hair between his fingers. He really, really doesn't want to feel the stares of the Shades all over again, especially when everything about his person feels so backwards, but he also knows that he'll be seen as rude if he declined her offer.

So instead, he forces a smile and gives her a resounding. "Sure! I'd love to!"

Mellie guides him through the Crossroads, showing him locations that he tries to pretend to care about. She shows him a rickety old fishing dock that's seemingly under construction, along with a giant cauldron that somehow serves as both a magical tool, but also a place for her to make nectar (which, he can't deny, is cool as fuck).

Somewhere between showing him some kind of hot spring and where she trains, Hypnos had begun to find himself spiraling in his own head again. He knows he should be paying more attention to where everything is, who these people were, but its a herculean task. Every time he looks at her to smile or to say a witty comment, he feels this sinking feeling in the middle of his chest.

Staring at a fully grown Mellie is kind of uncanny. She was a chubby little baby not even 5 minutes ago, at least for him. But now, she's all grown up- a full on woman now! It's horrible to think how much he missed of her growing up. He can't help but wonder what would it have been like, seeing her grow up? How many moments had he missed? Her first steps, her first words, finding out what she was the goddess of (which he ought to ask her sooner or later, considering one of his last memories of being in the House was wondering the same question). A whole lifetime of memories, and he slept through the whole thing.

He must've zoned out, or ignored a question from her, because she has this concerned look on her face; brows knitted together.

"Hypnos?"

"Huh? Yeah?" He perks up, smiling admittedly too wide. "What'd you say?"

Mellie opens and closes her mouth, looking a bit like the fish that Zag would catch as she struggles to find the right words to say. Eventually, she shakes her head in frustration, grabbing his arm and steering him to the right.

"Some of your siblings have shown up to help us with our cause," She explains as they walk together. "I probably should have reunited you guys first."

"My family?" He's brimming with excitement now. "You guys found Than? Or Mother Nyx?"

Mellie cringes, "Well…-"

Hypnos tries his best to not seem disappointed when he's, instead, shown to Nemesis. It's not that he doesn't like her! Far from it! It's just that Nem's always been way too cool to talk to any of her siblings (including Than, which Hypnos thinks is ridiculous, considering he's the coolest god he knows). He could probably count on one hand how many times he's talked to her in the last couple thousand years.

To give her credit where credit is due, though, she does greet him with what is her version of kindness. She asks if he's feeling okay, punches him pretty hard in the arm when he made a joke, and said that she's glad he's finally awake.

His conversation is cut short with her when she's whisked away by Odysseus for something, but he can't be too upset about it. Again, he hardly knows her! At least comparatively to his other siblings! Especially Moros, that guy is such a shut in and- oh look. That's where Mellie is taking him to next!

Moros seems equally as shocked to see Hypnos as he is to see him. Their conversation is even more brief than the one he had with Nemesis, though…he'll admit it was more productive. Who knew that Doom could be kinder than Retribution!

Maybe Moros could tell that Hypnos was slightly disappointed to not see his other siblings, and if that's the case, he feels like a total asshole. Either way, Moros happily informs him that they've kept in contact with Charon (oh how relived Hypnos was upon hearing that), and that he visits the Crossroads quite often.

"You just missed him by a few nights." He admits, ruefully. "He'll be back soon, of that I'm sure, little brother."

"Hopefully I don't sleep through that, too!" Hypnos jokes, but it doesn't seem to land. All Moros does is smile tightly, reminding Hypnos how glad he is that he's finally awake.

Throughout their whole conversation, Mellie stands by, awkwardly. She seems to have gone in with the assumption that he was close with his siblings, which Hypnos thinks is a tad bit silly. Maybe if he'd actually been around when she was growing up, she'd know how estranged he and Than were to the rest of the family. Nem was always off doing…whatever it was she did, and Moros spent all his time with Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Eris (who Nemesis let slip also hangs out in the Crossroads every now and again) had all but been excommunicated by Mother Nyx, and Charon had always been a lone soul. They all led vastly different lives. It was rare they ever acted like a family.

His conversation fizzles out after only a short while, which was expected. Moros had to leave to gods knows where, so he stands in front of the List of Minor Prophecies alongside Mellie. She's talking on and on, asking him questions about his other family members in what he believes is an attempt to cheer him up, though he's not humoring much. He misses his brothers, Than especially, and it physically hurts him to talk about them.

Hypnos remembers hearing somewhere that mortals believe that twins have a specific connection with each other. That they can feel each others presence, even when they're not there. It can't be true for mortals, because they tend to be pretty stupid sometimes with their theories, but it definitely feels to be the case for him. There's a noticeable emptiness, now. Even when Than was away for work or for his own personal reasons, Hypnos always knew he'd be back.

Now, he's not so sure.

His hand finds its way back to his hair, as he seems to be doing more often since waking up. He never knows what to do with his nervous energy, especially when his hands aren't preoccupied with doodling on the margins of his lists.

It…bothers him deeply knowing how much time had passed. The world obviously didn't stop when he fell asleep, but a sick, twisted part of himself sort of wished it did. He hates how long his hair is. He hates the distance he can feel between him and his brother. He hates how estranged he feels from Nemesis and Moros and Eris; how he couldn't even pretend to be happy to see them because he's too caught up in what's been taken from him. Everything is awful, and horrible, and part of him wishes that random voice lady never woke him up and-

"Hypnos?" Mellie puts a hand on his wrist, stopping his actions for a moment before letting go. "Are you okay?"

He realizes, then, that he'd tugged so harshly on his hair he'd managed to rip out a few strands, the moonlight-white curls held in his hands. Gross.

"Haha, sorry!" He lets the strands fall to the ground before he smooths out his hair with a feverish pitch. "I, uh- I just got lost in my head, I guess!"

Mellie doesn't look the least bit assured. "Is it your hair that's bothering you? I can tie it up for you, if you think it'd help?"

Hypnos nods, if anything, because he's realizing that concern is a horrible look on Mellie, especially if he's the cause of it. That, and the fact that he's quickly finding he just can't say no to her. The light of the underworld should get to call the shots, he figures, so he follows her to the end of the Crossroads.

Her room is quiet and smells of incense. There's blankets and carpets spread all around, giving it a cozy feel to it. If Hypnos felt even the least bit tired, he'd probably curl up and take a nap right now, but…he surprisingly would rather do anything but. How insane is that? The god of sleep not wanting to go to his own domain? He can't tell if he finds the idea frightening or downright hilarious.

"You can come here, if you need to have a bit of privacy. My friend Dora stays here too, but she keeps to herself, mostly." Mellie narrates as she grabs a brush and a piece of ribbon. She gestures for him to take a seat on the ground, which he does, his eyes falling on a familiar painting now placed in her room. He sits down in front of it, his eyes still locked onto the rough forms of the Queen, King, and their children. Once again, he finds himself slipping from this reality, imagining a much simpler, calmer time.

The House had been closed for the first few days/nights that Mellie had been born, mainly to give the Queen a bit of recovery time after giving birth. That meant that while she slept (courtesy of Hypnos, thank you very much), everyone took turns holding and playing with Mellie.

Mellie was just…gods. She was everything to the House. Who knew something that couldn't talk or feed itself could bring so much joy simply by being in the same room as other people? Even Megaera and Than smiled when she was around! Poor Mellie probably didn't even sleep in her crib most of the time, seeing as everyone wanted to spoil her constantly, himself included!

When the Queen had recovered and was back on her feet, Lord Hades had commissioned the painting to be made. What little internal work happening during the break pretty much ceased the day/night it was to be made, namely so that Lord Hades didn't have to worry about growing piles of paperwork or the like in his absence.

Hypnos, of course, used this rare time off to his full advantage, choosing to bother the Prince while he got ready whilst he lounged about on his impossibly comfortable bed.

Zagreus was fiddling with the chlamys he was supposed to wear for the portrait, sighing in frustration as he finally pinned it into place.

"This things all itchy." Zagreus groaned. "I'm not looking forward to sitting still for hours on end as this blasted painting gets made."

"Stop complaining," Hypnos yawned from where he was currently cocooned in blankets. "You'll be fine."

"Easy for you to say. You're more than content just lounging about for hours on end."

"Maybe if you slept in your bed you'd understand why it's such a fun pastime." He snickered, lazily floating over to where Zagreus stood in front of the Mirror of Night. He wrapped his long, bony arms around the Prince, sighing contently.

"You look good like this," He hummed, resting his head on Zags' shoulder. "'S a good change."

"Don't go falling asleep on me, mate." Zagreus laughed breathily, pressing a small kiss to Hypnos' curls.

"Mmmph," He groaned in response. "How long are you guys gonna take, do you think?"

"Likely won't get past the blocking out of shapes, and such. I think Melinoës gone and copied my 'inability to sit still for longer than 2 seconds' shtick, and we can't exactly have the painter depicting a blur rather than my little sister. How come?"

"Just wondering how long I get to sleep in your bed for." He replied, fully serious. Even with his eyes closed, he could still perfectly sense Zagreus' bemused expression.

"And here I thought my lover was wondering when next he'd be seeing me."

"Both can be true." He said with a yawn. "It just so happens that your bed is literally the most comfortable thing imaginable."

"Good to know what you're in this relationship for." Zagreus playfully fought back.

"Zagreus?" The Queen called from down the hall suddenly. "Are you ready?"

"Coming!" Zagreus called out, pulling away from Hypnos' arms and turning to look him head on. "There's my cue."

"Don't let me keep you," Hypnos made a shooing motion with his hands. "You know where to find me."

Zagreus smiled fondly, leaning to give Hypnos a small kiss. The Princes' lips were warm, just like the rest of his body. The sensation filled Hypnos with an emotion that can only be described as pure giddy and pure elation as he pushed further into the kiss, one of his hands wrapping around his waist while the other found itself on the nape of Zagreus' neck.

He could have stayed like that forever, he thinks. Warm, happy, and alone with Zagreus. Of course, this particular moment was short lived, with the Prince having to hurry over to where the painter was already waiting for him, and Hypnos having an entire realm of sleep that needed tending to.

But even if these moments spent together were fleeting, they were still always a constant. Like Spring and Winter coming every year, or Selene and Helios working in tandem to rise the moon and sun, these moments spent with his lover were expected with no end in sight.

Until, all of the sudden, it wasn't anymore. Until all that remained were dreams and replayed memories of a time no longer the present. Until Hypnos was trapped in his own mind with no escape, no reprieve, and no way of knowing when it would all cease. When did something so positive start to bring him so much pain? When did love turn into a gaping wound in his chest?

Why did it all stop?

Where did the time go?

Where is he now?

"Hypnos?" Mellie tapped his shoulder, startling him back to reality. "Are you- oh, you're crying!"

Hypnos snaps out of whatever trance he had been in, bringing a hand to his cheek. Sure enough, tears were streaming down them, hot and never ending. He scrubbed harshly at his face, laughing.

"Sorry, something just got in my eye." He joked. Mellie frowned, beginning to brush out his hair, being as gentle as she possibly could.

"You don't have to tell me anything, Hypnos. I know I am but a stranger to you, but know that I still care about you. I want to make your adjustment to the Crossroads as seamless as possible, especially considering I'm the one who woke you up in the first place."

"You…huh?" He was half listening until the end, still trying to get his emotions under control.

"You don't have to-"

"No, no, I heard you." He wipes his eyes one last time, looking behind himself to face her. "…You're the lady who was in my dreams." Hypnos stated, belatedly coming to the realization.

"Could you not tell?" Mellie asks, looking confused.

"Not…really? I mean, I couldn't see you in the dreams, only sense you. Which was terrifying by the way! I don't think I or one of the Oneiroi could ever make a nightmare like that!" Hypnos smiled, meaning every word he said.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, really." She sighs, starting to section out his hair. "I'll be honest, I didn't even know that was something I could do. It was supposed to be just a simple spell."

"It's fine!" He tries to reassure. "…You woke me up, didn't you? A bit unconventionally, but you still did!

"I guess so," Mellie agrees, the two of them lapsing into a comfortable silence. He closes his eyes, relishing in the soothing nature of his hair being braided. After some time, she pats his shoulder, handing him a mirror.

"Do you like it?" She asks, cautious. He holds the mirror, studying himself. He still doesn't recognize himself, at least not fully, but his hair is blissfully out of his face for now. The braid is nothing special, but it's the thought that counts.

"I love it!" He smiles, setting the mirror down on the floor.

"It's no problem at all." She smiles, standing up and looking over her shoulder to glance at the entrance of her room. "Listen, I'm…gonna go. Take another stab at this whole death to Chronos thing. I don't like being idle for too long."

"Your brother was the same way," Hypnos blurts out before he can stop himself. "He hated staying still."

Mellie doesn't say anything for a while, making Hypnos briefly feel like he said something wrong. Instead, she inhales, and when she next speaks, her voice is quiet.

"…Were you close with my brother?"

Hypnos feels a lump form in his throat. He settles on nodding, not trusting his voice to not crack with emotion.

"What was he like?" She asks, her voice meek. Hypnos was caught off guard by this question. He thought for a moment, pursing his lips. How to describe Zagreus? Strong, but that's a given, he's a god. He could talk about how loving he was, but that feels a bit inappropriate. Determined? Stubborn? How can he summarize someone so multifaceted?

"Kind." He settled on. "He could be really mean when he wanted to be, but he always chose kindness first…That's rare for a god, I think."

Mellie nods minutely, a small smile on her face. "I'm glad to hear that."

And with that, she leaves her room, no doubt to go and take another stab at her task. Hypnos can't help but feel his heart squeeze a bit in what he can only say is pure agony. He wants nothing more than to go back in time and ensure that Mellie could have grown up alongside her brother; get to know him for herself and not have to hear about his greatness from someone like himself.

But even with a task that feels so impossible, to kill Time itself, Hypnos is fully convinced Mellie- no, Melinoë because she's grown and capable, can achieve it. There's no doubt in his mind about it.

And for the first time since waking up, Hypnos allows himself to feel a glimmer of hope for a better future.