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Well, Zagreus thought to himself, watching his beloved dog walk away with his tail wagging, a Satyr Sack in one of his mouths, that run was terrible.
He was exhausted, he felt close to death- he'd defied death three times already and didn't have the luck or coin to be able to do it again. Honestly, this was more of a challenge run, agreeing to maybe a few too many conditions in the Pact of Punishment. Even his dear mother warned him not to get to cocky, while his father... well, his opinion would be heard soon enough.
Zagreus could be prideful at times, yet... he knew he'd lose here. Taking a deep breath, he limped through the door to the outside, taking in the freezing air. The snow was really pretty, despite the chill- part of him wished that he'd had the patience to listen to his father's explanation of what it was, back when they fought for idiotic reasons. He saw Hades, in his usual place by the lake, his back turned, and couldn't find himself saying anything. Nothing seemed suitable. Maybe he'll make this quick. Never thought I'd think that way, and I can't bring myself to ask him.
Hades heard his sons firey footsteps, then the sound of something heavy hitting the snow. Frowning, he turned his head to see that firstly, Zagreus had gone through this with the Stygian Blade, and that secondly... he'd dropped it to the ground, making zero attempts to approach. He turned completely, seeing the state of his boy, shoulders slumped and eyes staring at the ground.
"...I see this challenge wasn't kind to you." His voice was uncharacteristically soft, and it made Zagreus flinch. He shook his head, and Hades scoffed lightly, "If you think I'm going to show you mercy, or make this quick... then you're only half right."
"What? Wait, aren't you going to fight me? I'm not trying to insult you, but wouldn't you prefer the easy win? I'm not entirely sure I could survive a single strike from you." He felt embarrassed having to admit that, but it was the truth, and very plain to see just from looking at him.
Hades didn't speak, instead he signaled for Zagreus to approach him; he had nothing to lose, realistically- maybe Persephone would lightly tease him, while Megaera would scold him, and Thanatos would fuss in his own way. Gods, he loved them all. Taking another deep breath, he approached his father, until they stood side by side. Hades then sat down, and Zagreus arched his eyebrow before copying.
Finally, his father let out a quiet chuckle, sounding almost like his brothers for a moment, as he used half of his cape to wrap Zagreus up, keeping him safe from the cold, "You mocked my cape, but now you see the benefits. Sometimes you take a while in those caves, and I don't like being stuck in this blasted cold while you build your strength to kill me again."
"...it is nice and warm." Zagreus hadn't felt this... safe? Comforted? In the presence of his father in a long time. He was a grown adult, however sometimes a child needed their parents; he enjoyed Persephone's forehead kisses, Nyx's gentle hand holding, even Achilles putting his hand on his shoulder. When he was little, Hades was good with doing similar things, but only sometimes. Zagreus found himself shuffling closer to his father, who put an arm around him, keeping him warm, "What now, father? We just... sit here?"
"This is outside of the Underworld, Zagreus. So, neither of us can stay here long. Rather than fight and have a bloody death, we will sit until the Styx brings us home." Okay, that didn't sound bad, actually. He frowned when Hades murmured, "You look tired. If you fall asleep, you should avoid all the pain that comes with dying. It's a mortal technique, but it does work."
"Father, how do you know that? Have you died by falling asleep out here?" Hades just nodded, a whisper of a smile on his lips, but a sorrow buried in those glowing crimson eyes, "...was it because of me?"
"Yes and no." He took a deep breath, "Boy- Zagreus- this is another thing you absolutely cannot tell your mother, do you understand?"
"I understand. I won't tell." This probably wasn't good. Sounded sad, judging from his voice.
That was when Hades explained: "Truthfully, even though I knew it was better to let her go, I had a moment where... I missed my wife dearly, and in a moment of madness, I left you with Achilles, then fled the Underworld. Nyx knew it was a mistake, and spread her darkness further, so that I couldn't find Persephone and make the situation worse. While looking, I got lost in a forest, like a fool. I leaned against a tree to calm down, fell asleep, and..."
"...you woke up in the blood pool?"
"No, actually. Apparently I floated up to the surface, still asleep. Hypnos was the one who saw me, and Cerberus had to drag me out so that Nyx and Achilles could take me to my room." Zagreus stared at him, and almost missed the embarrassed blush hidden by his beard. "The point is, I felt no pain as I died, and was completely undisturbed until the next morning when I woke up naturally."
That was oddly reassuring. Knowing that sleep eased the pain and weakness felt from dying. Zagreus knew that his time would be running out soon, so thought that maybe a nap wasn't the worst idea in the world. His father was here, and despite their disagreements and miscommunication, they were still family, and there was something like love there. He murmured, "I... never really thanked you. For convincing Nyx and the Fates to bring me back."
"I had to." Hades looked at the river, how it glittered in the faint moonlight as he spoke, "You being stillborn didn't just hurt your mother, however I felt as if I had no right to mourn, considering how much she suffered. When she left, I knew I had to at least try."
Zagreus stared up at his father- all this time, did he truly never consider his father's feelings? Of course you didn't, you idiot. You were too angry at being lied to, you didn't think there might have been a reason! Blood and darkness...
"I held you, when Nyx brought you back." He shook his head, "I knew it was pathetic, I am a God, yet even I found myself... praying. When you finally moved and cried... it was the best moment of my life, Zagreus. I held you to my face, I started crying. I lost your mother, but I didn't lose you, in the end. You were so small, but with your burning feet, you certainly weren't delicate."
Zagreus laughed despite himself, and even Hades let out a short snort. Zagreus leaned into his father's embrace properly, and smiled weakly, "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. I don't regret how it all worked out, everyone seems happier, but I don't like what I did to my relationships with everyone at the start."
Cerberus destroyed the living room, Thanatos felt betrayed, Megaera was- for lack of a better term- furious. Even Hades had been colder, and ruthless. The God of the Dead shook his head, "Everyone is prone to mistakes, I see it every day. I had high expectations of you, though I neglected to see the other side of you: you don't like sitting still with paperwork, you prefer throwing yourself into work and fixing things by getting involved. You can't do that behind a desk. In a way, you take after your mother there- despite everything, I quite enjoy being able to organise things and write without things getting chaotic, while she preferred working with people and getting her hands dirty in the gardens."
"Is that why you made the job of Security Specialist for me?" His father nodded, and Zagreus smiled, "I do like this job, even if I get unlucky sometimes. Or cocky, in this case."
The casual conversation had to eventually come to an end, though both father and son seemed to bond well again. Zagreus slowly closed his eyes and slumped against his father. Hades, despite knowing what it would do, did not go to sleep. He enjoyed this moment with his boy a little longer, holding him as he felt the waves of nausea and dizziness, and the Styx took them home.
Persephone knew that her husband and son would be fighting by now, though even she was concerned when Cerberus came home and yet neither of the others had returned yet. She started walking towards the entrance as Hypnos woke up and blurted, "Welcome back, Lord Hades!"
"Hush. You'll wake him." Persephone rushed over to see Hades carrying Zagreus, fast asleep in his arms, completely enveloped in his red cape. He looked over at Persephone and gave a weak smile, "Would you believe me if I told you that we didn't fight, this time?"
"Only if you tell me what happened, love." He obliged, keeping his voice quiet as they headed into Zagreus' bed chambers, where Hades laid him in bed and Persephone tucked him in, the pair of them deciding to let him keep the cloak. She was proud of the pair of them for talking it out, this time. She kissed Zagreus on his forehead, watching him smile in his sleep, before they both left him.
Before exiting, Hades looked back at his son, fast asleep, remembering a time when a much younger and smaller boy once snuck into his own bed chambers and fell asleep in the Lord of the Underworld's bed. He muttered, "I'm going soft," before placing the Titan's Blood he had in his possession on Zagreus' desk- "I shouldn't count this, you didn't defeat me, however... you have earned it."
Zagreus didn't wake up until way later, not that time truly mattered in this place. He sat up and yawned, stretching; this was exactly why he refused to sleep unless he was bone tired, because otherwise he'd gladly have stayed in bed all day. Night. Whichever. When he looked over at his desk and saw his prize, he smiled warmly.
Father... I hope you know that we're okay. And that despite everything, it's not only mother that I love. I'm proud to be your son.