Archive of Our Own

Hades had stared at it for far too long. A range of emotions flashing across his face when he’d found it. It was out of place in the dark sanctum of his adopted brother’s room. An off white hooded sweatshirt with offensively bold gold and blue lettering across the chest.

He let his fingers run over the fabric, soft, well worn and far too big to belong to Beelzebub. Hades held it out in front of him once more, trying to place just where it had come from or whose it really could have been. The longer he stared the more confused he became. He scowled, huffing out a sigh before tossing it into the laundry basket with the rest of the dirty laundry he had come to collect.

Hades grabbed a few more items from around the room, tossing them into the basket on top of the offensive looking clothing item. He lifted the now full basket and made his way to the laundry room. His mind still flooded with questions about the sweatshirt.

It was then, when he had started to fill the machine that he saw it. In the same ugly bold blue letters what looked to be a name was peaking out on the back. He picked it up again, flipping it over to get a better look at the word. Maybe it would give him some kind of clue as to who it belonged to.

That was it. Nothing else. Just a single word that left more questions than garnering answers. He tossed it in along with the rest, resigning himself to the knowledge he wouldn’t get anymore answers by just staring at it. If he wanted to quell his curiosity he would just have to ask Beelzebub where he had gotten it in the first place. Or he could just forget about it. Pretend like he’d never seen it. That seemed like the better of his options. Beel was intensely private and would likely not give him an answer if he asked. ‘Truly puzzling.’ He thought.

Hades had decided weeks ago, when he’d found it, to forget about the sweatshirt. But now, his interest was piqued again. Beelzebub had been acting strangely the last couple of days. Well, more strange than usual and not necessarily acting.

His wardrobe had been subtly changing from its monochrome palette. It started small. A dark purple shirt here, a pair of red socks there. Sometimes just little accents with jewelry. Ever so slowly it started to develop more and more. More brightly colored clothing, over sized t-shirts and sweaters that were far removed from Beel’s normal taste in fashion. Sometimes he would leave for the day wearing a specific outfit, and return with a new addition. Never in shopping bags mind you. Always worn, or carried reverently in his hands.

Beelzebub would slink off to his room without a word and return later for dinner. Occasionally still wearing the newer item he now possessed. Same as the sweatshirt, these new clothes provided nothing in which for Hades to discern where they came from.

It was at the three month mark where he had decided to ask. His curiosity finally won out.

“Have you noticed Beelzebub’s new interest in fashion lately?” He’d posed the question to his other three brothers one morning over breakfast.

“Yeah, the runt’s been coming home with new shit just about every other day.” Adamas grunted. “Why?”

“Just curious really. It is all so different from his usual attire. Some of it seems to be too large for him. He’s not normally one to wear anything that wouldn’t fit perfectly.” Adamas’s brow furrowed.

“Do you know something we may not brother?” Zeus asked him. Hades heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping slightly.

“Nothing in particular really. Just that the clothes don’t belong to him is my assumption.”

“And how would you know that?” Adamas chided. “He tell you they weren’t his? Maybe the little twerp stole them or something.” Hades sent him a glare from across the table.

“No, he hasn't told me anything. Nor do I think he would steal them.” He paused, thinking about how to reveal his knowledge of the sweatshirt. “I found something in his room a few months ago when doing a laundry round. A very gaudy hooded sweatshirt with a name printed on the back.”

“A name?” Zeus’ eyebrows shot up at that. “Who?”

“Well not really a name. A nickname I suspect. It just says: ‘Magician’. With the University’s name and program it came from on the front. It’s far too large to be Beel’s. It honestly looks like it may fit me if I were to put it on. So I can only assume it belongs to someone else and found its way into his wardrobe.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” All three of the brothers turned their heads to face the voice from the other end of the table. Poseidon sat unimpressed, not even looking up from the newspaper he had been idly flipping through. “Beelzebub is seeing someone.” He flicked his eyes up, meeting the shocked expression of his brothers.

“How would you know?” Adamas sneered.

Poseidon stared at him blankly. “I don’t. It is only a guess based on his actions these last three months. Nothing more.” His eyes returned to paper. “It is really the only logical option based on his frequent absence around the house and the addition of an entirely unpleasant and ill fitting new wardrobe.” He flipped another page.

The other three sat in silence. The shock still heavy on their faces. Had their little brother really been hiding a relationship from them for this long? Had it really taken them three whole months to piece all of it together. No. Hades refused to accept this as the only logical option.

“If that was the case then why hide it from us?” Hades asked. Another page flip.

“I do not know brother. You are the closest with. You should know by now how cryptically private he is. If you want to know so bad then you should just ask him. I frankly do not care what he does as long as he doesn’t bring the human filth into the house.” Poseidon flipped another page. “Are we finished? I have business to attend to.” Hades motioned for him to take his leave. Poseidon folded the paper neatly and stood, leaving the room silently.

“Gods he is such a buzzkill.” Adamas griped. “Dropping bullshit like that and then leaving. Dick.”

“He may have a point.” Zeus shrugged. “None of those clothes could possibly be Beelzebub’s. There is too much color to them. Beel normally wouldn’t be caught dead in half the stuff he has been bringing home.”

“Yes. I think our brother may be correct in his assumptions.” Hades placed a hand under his chin in thought. “I am going to do some more investing into this line of thought. Many thanks for providing insights brothers. I will be taking my leave now.” With that, Hades pushed himself away from the table. Leaving his remaining two brothers to either argue amongst themselves or finish breakfast. Whichever came first.

It had been days since that conversation with his brothers, and Hades should honestly feel bad for how nosey he was being at this current moment. He knew his youngest brother liked to keep things to himself until he deemed it necessary to tell his brothers,but he was just too damn curious.

Beelzebub’s oddity had kicked up tenfold since that conversation with the others over breakfast. The frequent bringing home of new clothing and jewelry had dwindled some but not entirely fizzled. More new items would show up here and there. Hades had washed that stupid hoodie more times than he could count at this point. There was a more significant increase in Beelzebub going out or coming home late. To the point he was basically gone most days or every weekend. The times he was home, if he wasn’t locked away in his room, were spent staring at his phone and smiling. Smiling! In the last decade that they had known the younger man he had rarely ever smiled.

Frankly it had become very off putting. Hades could hardly stand it any longer. And what was Hades doing, instead of being the rational eldest brother? He was snooping through Beelzebub’s room. Something Adamas or Zeus would do if he was being honest with himself. But at this moment that didn’t matter. He needed answers and he needed them now. So there he was, rummaging around through notebooks, drawers, bags and so on to find something. Anything. Anything that would lead to the name of the person Beelzebub had started seeing. Maybe even dating if Poseidon’s theory was correct.

Hades searched and searched, but came up with nothing. Just notes from classes and those damn clothes. He was almost at his breaking point when it hit him. The soft scent of suede, musk, leather and a hint of oil. It had wafted off one of the many shirts he’d found in the room. Odd. This wasn’t a cologne his brother would typically gravitate to. Beelzebub preferred more floral and earthy scents to his knowledge. He brought the shirt to his nose, taking in a deeper inhale of the scent. It was rich, pleasant to the senses, and had a calming effect on the man. If his brother was truly seeing another person, he could understand why he brought home so many different clothes with this smell on them.

“Can I help you?” Hades jolted at the question, tossing the shirt onto the bed in a hurry. He turned, stomach sinking, when he saw Beelzebub in the doorway. He looked at Hades with a dull expression, waiting patiently for the elder to answer. Hades cleared his throat, fighting off the flush of embarrassment of being caught snooping.

“No. I’m alright.” He cursed himself at the uncertainty that filtered into his response. “Apologies for the intrusion.” Beelzebub looked at him with scrutiny.

“Rephrase then. What are you doing here?” He asked, a hint of anger laced into his tone.

“Desmos flew off with one of my cufflinks earlier. I thought he may have brought it in here.” Hades cringed internally at the weak excuse, but hoped it would be enough to throw Beelzebub off.

It was no luck however. Beelzebub arched his brow, crossing his arms at the same moment. “Is that why you were sniffing my shirt brother?”

Damn it. Beelzebub, ever observant, had caught him red handed. Not just snooping through his things, but sniffing a shirt like a creep.

“I was merely seeing if it needed washing my dear brother. Nothing more.” He smiled awkwardly. “Again, apologies for the intrusion. Desmos must have taken my cufflink elsewhere. Excuse me.” Hades gave a cursory bow and made his way towards the door and past his youngest brother.

He’d barely made it past Beelzebub and down the hallway before he heard him speak.

“If you have questions Hades, all you have to do is ask.” Hades stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the younger. He was still in the doorway to his room. His shoulders tense, face obscured by his messy hair. “I will tell you whatever you’d like to know. Within reason of course.”

“Why, whatever do you mean brother?” He lied. “I told you. I was merely looking for my lost cufflink and thought to check your laundry. Nothing more.” He gave another fake smile. He was met with a grunt in response. Beelzebub entered the room and closed the door not long after.

The smile slipped from his face the moment the door closed. With another sigh he turned and made his way down the hall. Fuck.

He went over his findings that evening with his other three brothers after dinner.

“So let me get this straight.” Adamas scrubbed his hands across his face in frustration. “You, master detective and respectable big brother, went nosing around Beelzebub’s room to find some clues to this crack pot theory that he is dating someone.The only thing you have to show for it is some random cologne you don’t recognize you smelled on a shirt.”

“That is correct.” Hades felt the heat rise on his cheeks. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything.

“You’re forgetting the part where he got caught sniffing the shirt.” Zeus smiled over the rim of his wine glass. “Like a creep.”

“Ah yes that he did.” Adamas pinched the bridge of his nose this time. “How could you be so stupid brother?”

“How was I supposed to know he would come home before dark today!” Hades snapped. “He has barely stepped foot in that room in days other than to sleep or grab some notes on occasion! I thought it would have been a safe idea at the time!”

“Well now he is going to be on to you!” Adamas sighed. So you better figure this shit out or drop it, because now he is going to be extra cautious if he is trying to keep it a secret.”

“Will you two please stop shouting?” Down the table Poseidon looked exasperatedly at his bickering brothers. “He is still here if you recall. If you keep being this loud then he is bound to hear you and make this whole scheme you have created for nothing.”

Hades opened his mouth, prepared to give a witty retort when the doorbell rang. Hades, Adamas and Zeus looked at each other in confusion. Poseidon merely glanced over at the door.

Another ring of the doorbell had Hades up and moving. He swiftly made his way over to the door, confused at who could be on the other side.

“Hello? How may I help you…”

A tall, handsome young man stood opposite Hades on the front step. He wore a pleasant smile, accentuated by bright blue eyes and soft brown hair.

“Hello!” He greeted. “Is Beel home? He left his textbooks at my house this afternoon after studying and I figured I should return them before our exam tomorrow.” Hades stared at him, mouth slightly agape.

“Ah…” The young man scratched at his head nervously. “I-if he isn’t home I can just return them in class tomorrow. Sorry, I’ll just um…” He made to leave, turning slightly to head back down the stairs.

“No no!” Hades held out a hand placatingly. “He is home. Apologies.This is merely a surprise. My precious brother doesn’t get many visitors. Please come inside and I will fetch him for you.” The young man gave a slight nod, crossing the threshold and entering the home.

“Please wait here for a moment. Beelzebub will be down shortly.” Hades left the entryway, catching the curious eyes of his brothers who had remained in the dining room.

Hades hadn’t made it very far before Beelzebub pushed past him, towards the young man who had just entered their home.

“Tesla.” Beelzebub hissed. “What are you doing here?”

“Well I uh…I wanted to return your books…” The you man, Tesla, rubbed at the back of his head sheepishly with one hand and held out the books in the other.

“It could have waited.” Beelzebub grit his teeth, grabbing Tesla by the arm and leading him back out towards the door.”

“Well yes but...” Hades watched as those blue eyes gazed upon his younger brother. First with a pleading look, but quickly morphing into something else entirely. Adoration?

“Hey! You’re wearing it.” A bright smile crossed Tesla’s face. “It looks good on you!”

Hades’ face morphed into surprise at that. Draped over Beelzebub’s small frame was that white hooded sweatshirt. The gaudy blue letters of the word ‘Magician’ being swallowed up by the fabric.

“It’s you!”

Both young men and Hades himself jumped slightly at his outburst. They turned and looked at him then. Shock swimming in Tesla’s eyes, embarrassment flooding Beelzebub’s.

“Nikola. We need to leave. Now.” Beelzebub tugged at Tesla's arm.

“Wait but I…”He tried to argue.

“Now!”

Beelzebub glared over his shoulder at Hades and tugged the taller young man out the door. Hades blinked slowly as the door slammed shut behind them.

“Well. I guess you don’t have to go sniffing around his room anymore!” Adamas howled from the dining room. “You got all your answers right there!”

Hades didn’t bother with a response. Just stared at the door his brother had just rushed out of.

Nikola Tesla