Chapter Text
Zagreus was thrilled when he ran down the escalators of the airport. Perhaps a little too thrilled.
As he ran down towards me, this idiot, true to form, knocked over a mother and her daughter at the last step after tripping over their suitcase.
Honestly…
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Are you two okay?!” He apologised profusely as he helped them stand. I ran over and arranged their suitcases. I wished I could have told the passerbys that there was nothing to see here, but the fall was far too dramatic.
“It’s alright”, the woman kindly smiled, dusting off her daughter’s clothes. “But do be careful. Running down the escalator is dangerous!”
“Right. Sorry again”, he laughed, blushing. Though, he could have simply been flushed. He did run across the airport after dropping Miss Persephone.
I would have scolded him, but the entire talk would have gone in one ear and out the other. Besides, I wasn’t about to get a word in anyway. As soon as we helped the two of them, Zagreus gleefully led our way out.
“Finallyyyyy!~”
Zagreus stretched his arms above his head and beamed despite his scuffle earlier. “Can you believe it, Than? I actually did it! Mother’s finally going back home to talk to Father and the best part is that HE’S okay with it! All that time, all that effort paid off!”
A whole year spent just behind this. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t witnessed it myself. I nodded and smiled at him.
“It did. So, what do you want to do now? Head back to the dorm rooms and study for the next test?”
“Huh?” Zagreus blinked at me like I was crazy, then tilted his head. “No way! Today’s a special day, Than! We’re going out to celebrate! Call everyone you can! We’re going hard tonight!”
I rolled my eyes at him, but I already told Hypnos to set things up when he dropped his mother at the gates. I figured Zagreus would want to celebrate an accomplishment like this. It wasn’t every day that a son could reunite his parents and mend their broken marriage. Especially after flying across the seas, lying about his career goals, potentially burning all bridges and tricking his very dangerous and loaded father.
I couldn’t even lift a finger against my mother, yet Zagreus could openly defy everyone while still calculating everyone’s best interests. His courage always looked like stupidity to me, even when we were children, but he’d been shining a lot more recently.
“Ah…that reminds me”, he turned to me with a very familiar pleading expression. “You wouldn’t mind covering my share of the bill, right? Just for today! Father’s still mad at me and he…may or may not have booked Mother’s flight tickets on my account as payback, sooo…I’ve got empty pockets.”
That being said, his stupidity often shone just as brightly as his courage. Honestly…this boy was the reason I lived with headaches.
How was someone brilliant enough to get a scholarship in a prestigious university simultaneously capable of being this dumb?
I sighed. “You’re paying me back. That’s my only condition.”
“Woo-hoo! You’re the best!”
Though, it is the truth.
Ever since we were children, I admired Zagreus.
Whether he got bullied, ridiculed or even isolated, he never stopped marching forward. I always saw that fire in his mismatched eyes as we grew up, and I’m sure Megaera saw it too. There was a reason they entered a relationship, yet I could never understand why they separated. They never really told anyone much.
Still, despite the turbulent history, I could see them laugh over dinner or plan group hangouts on the weekends after classes. I assumed Megaera never got over him, but after a long time by his side, I began to realise what she saw.
Of course, it wasn’t like I had romantic feelings towards Zagreus. When I said that I realised what she saw, I wasn’t implying anything. I couldn’t feel what she felt at all, I just began to understand her perspective.
Zagreus was my best friend. An important part of my life.
Besides, we were both men. That wouldn’t have worked, even if we wanted it to. I wasn’t even sure if Zagreus liked men. It would have been quite strange to ask, too.
I was satisfied with our way of life.
We were roommates, bonding over our shared academic journeys, sharing our emotions and reminiscing on how far we’ve come. Of course, I couldn’t help him study even if I wanted to. I knew nothing of his subject. I couldn’t exactly ask him to help me either. The last time I gave him a scientific paper, he handed it back to me and fell asleep.
It truly was odd.
We’d come such a long way. All four of us.
“Meeegggggg!” Zagreus whined into poor Megaera’s palm as she casually sipped her drink. Our plan was simple- gather in a classy bar just outside of the university’s gates and celebrate Zagreus’ achievement. It wasn’t going well. “I wanna try a Bloody Mary toooo, Meeeegggg! Gimmeeeee!”
She didn’t even look at him. “You’ve had enough alcohol for the night. Do you want a hangover?”
“Technically, he’s well past that limit. He did just down a whole Long Island”, Hypnos laughed, ruffling Zag’s hair. “He’s guaranteed to get a hangover tomorrow!”
“Lemme go, Hyppie! I gotta convince the strict justice lady to gimme a sip!”
“Justice lady?”
I pulled out my phone to capture the moment. Even I couldn’t resist the notion that it had to be preserved. Megaera, casually sipping a Bloody Mary with her palm stuck in Zagreus’ face as Hypnos laughed on. Like trying to push a toddler away from a toaster.
Just before I could tilt the phone to take a picture though, it buzzed loudly in my palm. The caller ID read Mother’s phone number.
“Give me a minute, guys”, I excused myself and hurried outside. I would need silence. Nights in the area weren’t quiet either way, but they did not need to include the incessant whining of an embarrassingly drunk college student.
“Hello?”
“Ah, Thanatos”, Mother’s voice came from the other end, surprisingly joyful. “I see Zagreus accomplished his goal. Well done in keeping him company.”
Her praise was rare…she must have been thrilled to have Miss Persephone return. I smiled and nodded. “It was nothing. After he got over the initial conflict, we managed to make up. The credit for this accomplishment goes to Zagreus, and Zagreus alone.”
“I understand that. Are you currently celebrating?”
She must have heard the cars passing by. “Yes, we are.”
“Please, do take care of him", she chuckled. "Zagreus is known to take after his cousin in moments of jubilation.”
I laughed dryly. Right, who would know that better than me? Work hard, play harder- it was basically his motto. The only thing left now was for him to tattoo it on his back.
“However, that is not why I am calling you.”
Huh? “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, it is. I was going to wait until the next morning, however, we may be short on time. Do you recall the conditions of our agreement, Thanatos?”
The second she finished her sentence, I felt a shiver go down my spine. I quickly checked the date and felt my heart pick up pace. A year…oh gods. How could I forget?
“You and Hypnos must work quickly. The deadline for the Transfer Program will arrive soon.”